Life Insurance Lawyer Washington
"Life Insurance Lawyers Serving Washington State: The Lassen Law Firm" Life insurance claims in Washington State can be difficult to manage, especially when dealing with denied benefits or bad faith insurance practices. At The Lassen Law Firm, we are dedicated to assisting individuals and families across the Evergreen State recover the payouts they deserve. Whether you’re in Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Bellevue, or any other part of Washington, we provide expert legal guidance and personalized support every step of the way.
As nationally recognized life insurance attorneys, we’ve successfully handled cases across all 50 states, including Washington, with over $750 million in policies recovered for our clients. At The Lassen Law Firm, we combine legal expertise, commitment, and compassionate advocacy to fight for justice for those we represent.
One of the primary reasons for a denied life insurance claim in Washington State is material misrepresentation. Insurance companies like AIG, Prudential, and Mass Mutual rely on applicants’ truthful disclosure of their health, lifestyle, and financial status when issuing a policy. If a policyholder omits a serious health condition or misstates lifestyle habits, the insurer may rescind the policy upon discovery, even posthumously. This is particularly relevant during the contestability period, typically the first two years of the policy, where insurers such as State Farm, New York Life, and Banner rigorously investigate claims to detect fraud or omissions. In extreme cases, a claim can be denied due to policyholder fraud, which includes falsified medical records or intentional non-disclosure of high-risk behaviors, an issue seen with policies from companies like Mutual of Omaha and American Family.
A denied claim may also stem from a policy lapse, which occurs when the policyholder fails to pay premiums on time. While most policies include a grace period, often 30 or 31 days, allowing late payments to be made, missing this window can result in policy termination. Insurers such as Lincoln Financial, Guardian, and Allianz have strict policies regarding premium default. A policyholder facing financial difficulties may choose policy surrender to receive its cash value, but this also means forfeiting the death benefit. In some cases, a policy can be revived through policy reinstatement, but insurers such as Trustmark, VOYA, and Americo often require proof of insurability, which may lead to a higher premium or denial of reinstatement.
Many policies contain a suicide clause, which limits payouts if the policyholder dies by suicide within a specific period, usually two years. Companies such as CMFG, John Hancock, and Physicians Mutual enforce these clauses strictly. In such cases, insurers may only refund the premiums paid rather than providing the full death benefit. Additionally, a foreign death exclusion can come into play when a policyholder dies outside their home country. Some policies impose strict geographic restrictions, and if the death occurs in a high-risk country, the claim may be denied. Companies like Aetna, AXA, and Reliance Standard may include these exclusions in their policies.
A common but often overlooked reason for claim denial is a policy exclusion or a policy exclusion rider, which outlines specific circumstances under which the insurer will not pay. Deaths due to hazardous activities, substance abuse, or certain medical conditions may fall under this clause. Additionally, an accidental death rider may only pay out if the death is classified strictly as accidental, meaning deaths from illness or negligence may not qualify. Insurers such as Transamerica, Fidelity & Guarantee, and Erie often scrutinize these riders. Claimants often misinterpret this rider as a guarantee of additional funds when it only applies to specific scenarios.
Disputes over beneficiaries are another common issue leading to delays or denials. If multiple individuals claim to be the rightful policyholder beneficiary, the insurer may file an interpleader action, leaving the decision to the court. Cases of beneficiary fraud—such as falsified documents or coercion—can also cause insurers to deny claims. Companies like Foresters, Bestow, and Kemper have dealt with such disputes in the past. Furthermore, if a policyholder attempted a beneficiary change without proper documentation, an insurer like Western & Southern, Integrity, or Navy Federal may default to the previously recorded beneficiary.
During claim investigation, insurers verify the legitimacy of a claim. A death certificate discrepancy, such as inconsistent dates or conflicting causes of death, can trigger further scrutiny. Additionally, claimant fraud, where a beneficiary fabricates details to secure a payout, can result in claim denial. Insurers like Hartford Life, Pekin, and One America also check for policyholder misconduct, including illegal activities that may have led to the death.
Each insurer imposes a claim filing deadline, and missing it may result in automatic rejection. Proper claim documentation, including medical records, proof of death, and policy details, is crucial. Incomplete or missing paperwork often delays or derails a claim entirely. Companies like Progressive, Amica, and Nationwide emphasize proper documentation to ensure claims are processed efficiently.
A policy loan, taken against the policy’s cash value, can reduce the death benefit if not repaid before death. Additionally, a policy assignment, where ownership is transferred to another entity (such as a creditor), may affect payout eligibility. Understanding policyholder rights ensures that both the insured and beneficiaries are aware of potential financial implications tied to these provisions. Companies such as American National, Chubb, and William Penn often highlight these details in policy agreements.
If a claim is denied, beneficiaries receive a claim denial letter, explaining the reasons. Beneficiaries can pursue a claim appeal if they believe the denial was unjustified. Engaging in claim dispute resolution, whether through legal avenues or arbitration, can sometimes overturn an insurer’s decision. Companies such as Philadelphia American, Federated, and Woodmen have established appeal processes for such scenarios.
Some term life policies offer policy conversion, allowing a switch to a permanent policy without additional underwriting. If not converted in time, the coverage may expire. Policy renewal can also affect claims, especially if a policyholder fails to meet policyholder obligations, such as premium payments or proper disclosure during the renewal process. Companies such as Liberty Mutual, Dearborn, and RiverSource offer flexible options for conversion and renewal.
Questions about life insurance claims in Washington State
What do I do if my life insurance claim in Washington was denied?
You need to a top Washington life insurance lawyer to represent you.
What do I do If I was served with a life insurance interpleader lawsuit in Washington?
You don't want to jeopardize your case, so you'll need a top Washington life insurance attorney for representation.
What do I do if I have a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Washington?
Our top Washington life insurance law firm can represent you with respect to your beneficiary dispute.
Why would an accidental death & dismemberment life insurance claim in Washington be denied?
An AD&D life insurance claim is typically denied either because the death was caused by a medical event not an accident, or that there was alcohol involved which is typically an exclusion in the policy.
Can policy lapse be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Washington?
Yes, but the lapse can be contested by our life insurance attorneys.
Is alleged misrepresentation on a life insurance application a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Washington?
Yes, but our life law firm can dispute the misrepresentation.
Can an alcohol exclusion be a reason for a denied life insurance claim in Washington?
Yes, but there are ways a life insurance lawyer can dispute this.
What do I do about a bad faith ERISA life insurance denial of death benefits in Washington?
As you only have one appeal, best to have our lawyers resolve it.
What should I do about a life insurance contestability period claim denial in Washington?
You should always get legal representation as any denial can be contested.
What do I do if I get a denial letter for my life insurance claim stating it was denied due to Washington state law?
There are many exceptions to denials based on Washington state law.
What are the worst life insurance companies in Washington State for paying claims?
These Washington State life insurance companies deny many claims: Symetra Life Insurance Company in Bellevue.
2025 Washington Denied Life Insurance Claims
- Genworth COVID-19 death denial $138,000.00
- Athene lapsed the policy of client $52,000.00
- Principal Life coronavirus death $105,000.00
- American United sickness exclusion $61,000.00
- Great West lapsed the policy resolved $109,000.00
- Accidental Death & Dismemberment won $839,000.00
- TIAA felony exclusion resolved $303,000.00
- AD&D claim rejected high BAC $910,000.00
- Denial of SGLI claim beneficiaries $407,540.00
- Ethos suicide self-inflicted injury $11,000.00
- Wilton smoking in medical records $85,000.00
- Country Financial material misrepresentation $10,000.00
- iA Financial wrong age listed on application $35,000.00
- Chubb Life interpleader lawsuit resolved $94,000.00
- Kemper Life missed three payments won $73,000.00
- Columbian Mutual self-inflicted injury issue $80,000.00
- OneAmerica lapse automatic bank deduction $12,000.00
- AARP tried to terminate policy after death $101,300.00
- Mass shooting Washington life claim denied $142,000.00
- Liberty Mutual interpleader case $513,000.00
- West Coast alcohol exclusion claim $227,000.00
- Prudential AD&D accidental death $348,000.00
- ERISA appeal after great legal brief $190,000.00
- Washington denied life insurance claim $3,067,750.00
- SGLI dispute wife and ex-wife $400,000.00
- Security Mutual beneficiary dispute $305,000.00
- Gerber failure to accept policy premiums $170,000.00
- Denied life insurance claim Washington $1,240,000.00
- Prudential material misrepresentation application $330,000.00
- FEGLI appeal of life benefits won $149,000.00
- Washington bad faith life insurance $821,000.00
- AIG accidental death claim won $514,000.00
- Stonebridge contestability period medical records $130,000.00
- Washington divorce and life insurance $757,000.00
- Transamerica autoerotic asphyxiation death $426,000.00