Washington Life Insurance Lawyer

Life Insurance Lawyers Serving All 39 Washington Counties

Christian Lassen, Esq. | 25 Years Experience | Hundreds of Millions Recovered

If your life insurance claim was denied in Washington, you're not alone and you're not without options. At The Lassen Law Firm, we focus exclusively on life insurance litigation and have helped families throughout Washington recover millions in wrongfully denied death benefits. Whether your case involves a policy lapse, misrepresentation allegation, or a contested beneficiary change, we have the experience to challenge the denial and pursue the full payout.

Led by nationally recognized life insurance attorney Christian Lassen, quoted by The Wall Street Journal and rated 10.0 by AVVO, our firm serves clients in every region of Washington. We handle denied life insurance claims in all 39 counties, and we never charge a fee unless we recover for you.

Denied Life Insurance Claim in Washington? You’re Not Alone.

In Washington, it’s all too common for life insurance companies to delay or deny claims during a time when families need support most. If you’re dealing with a life insurance claim denial in Washington, The Lassen Law Firm is here to help you take legal action and pursue the full benefits you’re entitled to.

Life insurance beneficiary disputes in Washington frequently involve questions about a policyholder’s intent, last-minute changes, or competing claims from relatives. If you're involved in a life insurance beneficiary dispute in Washington, The Lassen Law Firm is prepared to protect your interests and help you secure the benefits you're owed.

When there’s a dispute over life insurance benefits in Washington, insurers often file an interpleader lawsuit in Washington to avoid liability and let the court decide who should receive the payout. These interpleader actions are often filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of Washington as well as the US District Court for the Western District of Washington.

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. 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, with hundreds of millions 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. Call now for a free consultation to see if we can help you recover your life insurance benefits. No obligation.

Unlike other firms, The Lassen Law Firm exclusively handles denied life insurance claims. With 25 years of experience in this niche, we are recognized as top experts in the field. Our lawyers have earned prestigious awards, including membership in the Multi-Million Dollar Advocates Forum and a 10.0 rating on AVVO. No other firm offers the same level of dedication and expertise in denied life insurance cases.

Life Insurance Claim Denied in Washington? We’re Ready to Fight for Your Benefits

Life insurance is meant to provide financial security when families need it most. Yet in Washington, many beneficiaries face unexpected denials, lengthy delays, or underpaid claims. If your life insurance claim has been denied, our Washington life insurance attorneys are ready to take action, protect your rights, and pursue the full benefits you are entitled to receive. Denied accidental death insurance claims in Washington often require legal intervention to overcome insurer pushback and secure rightful benefits.

Insurance companies in Washington are required by law to handle claims fairly, promptly, and in good faith. When they wrongfully deny valid claims or delay payment without cause, they can be held legally responsible and beneficiaries may be entitled to additional damages. We offer free consultations and do not collect fees unless we successfully recover benefits for you.

Understanding Contestability Periods and Life Insurance Denials in Washington

Most life insurance policies issued in Washington include a two-year contestability period. During this time, insurers can review claims closely and deny payment if they discover material misstatements made in the application process. After the contestability period expires, their ability to deny based on application errors is extremely limited unless they can prove intentional fraud.

Washington law makes it clear: only material misstatements, inaccuracies that would have affected the insurer’s decision to issue or price the policy, are grounds for rescinding coverage. Minor mistakes, honest errors, or irrelevant omissions generally do not justify denial once a valid claim is submitted.

If your claim was denied based on contestability arguments, it’s important to have an experienced Washington life insurance lawyer review the denial immediately.

Common Reasons Life Insurance Claims Are Denied in Washington

Insurance companies often rely on similar reasons when denying life insurance claims. In Washington, common justifications for denial include:

Accusations of Misrepresentation

Claims that the insured failed to disclose important health conditions, tobacco use, or participation in risky activities.

Policy Lapses Due to Nonpayment

In Washington, insurers often deny life insurance claims over missed payments, but the policy lapse explanation doesn’t always hold up when grace periods or notice obligations were ignored.

Policy Exclusions for Specific Causes of Death

Deaths related to suicide (within exclusion periods), criminal behavior, or hazardous activities may trigger policy exclusions.

Life Insurance Policy Beneficiary Disputes

Disputes over who is entitled to the proceeds, allegations of improper beneficiary changes, or competing claims can delay payment.

Employer Errors in Group Life Insurance Plans

Mistakes made during group enrollment or plan administration can wrongfully deprive families of benefits.

Delays Linked to Death Investigations

While some investigation delay may be justified, excessive delays without action can violate Washington's insurance regulations.

Even when insurers provide detailed denial explanations, many life insurance denials are legally weak and can be successfully contested.

Key Steps to Take After a Life Insurance Denial in Washington

Taking swift, organized action after a denial protects your rights. You should:

• Request and save a full copy of the insurance policy, including the application and any amendments or riders.
• Review the denial letter carefully and document the insurer’s reasons for denying the claim.
• Preserve all communications with the insurer — including emails, letters, and call summaries.
• Avoid submitting any new documents or statements without legal advice.
• Contact a Washington life insurance lawyer immediately to evaluate your case and begin preparing a legal strategy.

Washington law provides powerful remedies, including the potential for treble damages when insurers engage in bad faith or unfair claims practices.

How Our Washington Life Insurance Attorneys Challenge Denied Claims

When you work with our firm, you gain advocates focused solely on helping life insurance beneficiaries recover what they are owed. We will:

• Analyze your insurance policy, the application, and the insurer’s denial justification in full.
• Identify violations of Washington insurance law, bad faith tactics, and legal weaknesses in the denial.
• Challenge improper contestability rescissions, lapse defenses, and exclusion-based denials.
• Handle all communications and negotiations with the insurance company so you can focus on your family.
• Prepare administrative appeals when necessary for group life insurance policies governed by ERISA.
• Litigate wrongful denials aggressively in Washington courts when insurers refuse to pay valid claims.
• Pursue treble damages and attorney’s fees if bad faith insurance practices are proven under Washington law.

Our mission is to secure the full life insurance benefits your family is owed — and to hold insurers accountable when they act unfairly or unlawfully.

Federal life insurance policies like SGLI for service members and FEGLI for government workers can be wrongfully denied due to administrative mistakes or unclear eligibility records. We assist Washington families in pursuing rejected military SGLI insurance benefits and correcting unfair denials under the Federal Employees’ Group Life Insurance program.

If your coverage came through your job, it may fall under federal ERISA law. Our firm helps Washington clients challenge denied employer-sponsored life insurance claims and navigate the complex ERISA appeals process from start to finish.

Washington Life Insurance Denials – Real Answers Backed by Local Experience

What should I do if my life insurance claim was denied in Washington State?

Start by requesting the denial letter and reviewing the stated reason. In one case, a widow was denied benefits because her husband allegedly made a misstatement on the application. We demonstrated that the discrepancy was minor and had no bearing on his cause of death.

Can I still win a claim that was denied for alleged policy lapse in Washington State?

Yes, especially if proper notice wasn’t sent. We represented a family  whose father missed a premium while hospitalized. The insurer failed to send a grace period warning. Under Washington law, that invalidated the lapse, and we recovered the $150,000 benefit.

Does Washington law remove an ex-spouse as beneficiary of a life insurance policy after divorce?

Yes. Under Washington law (RCW § 11.07.010), a divorce generally revokes an ex-spouse’s beneficiary designation on a life insurance policy. The ex-spouse is treated as having predeceased the policyholder unless the designation was reaffirmed after divorce or preserved by court order. The Lassen Law Firm can help you determine how this law applies to your situation.

Can I contest a suspicious beneficiary change made in Washington State?

Absolutely. A Bellevue man changed beneficiaries to a caregiver weeks before death. The adult children suspected undue influence. We obtained medical records and witness affidavits showing impaired capacity, and we successfully resolve it.

Is Washington a community property state for life insurance claims?

Yes. For example, in a Yakima case, a husband named his brother as beneficiary, but used joint marital funds to pay premiums. His wife received half the proceeds under Washington’s community property rules.

Can I still claim life insurance benefits after the policyholder died overseas?

Yes, but insurers often delay or deny these claims. We handled a case where a man from Redmond died while hiking in Nepal. The insurer denied the claim under a “foreign death” exclusion. We proved the clause was ambiguous, and the full benefit was paid out.

What if the policy was denied due to a minor health disclosure error?

Only material misrepresentations justify denial. In Everett, an insured failed to report mild anxiety treatment from 10 years earlier. The death was unrelated, and the denial was overturned after we argued the omission was irrelevant and unintentional.

What happens if a Washington ERISA life insurance claim is denied?

You must exhaust administrative appeals before suing. A Boeing employee’s widow in Renton faced a denial for “ineligible enrollment.” We successfully resolve the case in our client's favor.

Can an accidental death claim be denied due to “natural causes” in Bellingham?

Yes but not always correctly. In Bellingham, a man fell and died. The insurer claimed it was due to a heart attack. We commissioned an independent pathologist who found no evidence of heart disease. The death was deemed accidental, and the claim paid.

Can a will override a life insurance policy in Washington?

No. The named beneficiary on the policy controls. 

What if my life insurance denial cites Washington state law?

That doesn’t mean the denial is correct. In Federal Way, an insurer cited a state statute about contestability, but misapplied it. We demonstrated the two-year window had closed, and the denial was reversed.

Can I still collect on a policy from the 1990's?

Yes, if it remained in force or was a paid-up policy. In Yakima, a family discovered a MetLife policy from 1992. The insured had kept it paid through automatic deductions. We recovered the benefit after confirming status through archived records.

What happens if two people claim the same life insurance in King County?

That’s an interpleader situation. We represent clients in interpleader lawsuits and win.

Can life insurance be denied if the death involved alcohol in Washington State?

It depends. In one case, a man crashed his vehicle after drinking. The insurer denied the AD&D claim citing intoxication. However, we submitted a brief and successfully resolved the case.

Can I still recover benefits if the policy lapsed a week before death?

Possibly. In Richland, a woman died eight days after her policy lapsed. Her daughter had mailed a payment, but it was delayed. We got the client paid out.

What if the beneficiary form was never submitted in Bremerton?

The policyholder’s intent may still be enforceable. In Bremerton, a man filled out a change-of-beneficiary form but died before mailing it. We resolved the claim and got client paid.

Can an agent’s mistake on the application be used to deny my claim?

No. In Lakewood, an insurance agent entered the wrong medication in a client’s application. When the client died, the claim was denied for misrepresentation. We proved the error was the agent’s fault, and the payout was reinstated.

What if no beneficiary is listed on the policy?

Then the benefit usually goes to the estate.

Is there a deadline to file an appeal in Washington?

Yes. ERISA appeals must be filed within 180 days. Private policies vary, but the sooner, the better. We fight all denied life claims.

Can an old life insurance policy from a defunct insurer still be valid?

Yes. In Renton, a man had a policy from a now-merged company. We tracked it to the successor insurer and helped the family recover the benefit 20 years later.

Can I settle a life insurance dispute without going to court?

Yes. In the majority of cases we can resolve the claim by merely submitting a brief to the insurer's legal department.

Can I fight back against vague fraud accusations?

Yes, but insurers often use this tactic. In Kent, a claim was denied due to alleged fraud for omitting a dental procedure. We showed the omission was immaterial and won.

Contact us for a free consultation.

Written & Reviewed by Christian Lassen, Esq., Nationally recognized life insurance lawyer: 25 years experience, hundreds of millions recovered.  Quoted in The Wall Street Journal ( May 17, 2025).

Last reviewed: June 27, 2025 | Contact 800-330-2274

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