Contesting a life insurance beneficiary

by guest101 » Sun Sep 09, 2012 01:17 am

My sister passed away a few months ago. She was not married and has no children. I am her only survivor. The Friday before she passed away she sent me a text message asking for my social. When I asked why she said she was changing her beneficiary for her life insurance. I was notified on Sunday that she had passed away. Her death was under investigation and after three months it was ruled accidental. Her ex-boyfreind is named as beneficiary on her life insurance. She and her ex-boyfriend broke up about three weeks before her death. Between the time of the break up and her death the ex- boyfriend and his new girlfreind harrassed my sister constantly. I did notify the insurance company that I was contesting the ex as beneficiary. When we were packing my sisters belongings my daughter found a change of beneficiary form that was signed and dated four days prior to her death, two days before she asked me for my social; but the place to name the beneficary was destroyed and was unreadable. Everything else on the paper was fine. I sent this paper along with all her bills and funeral bill, and signed letters from freinds of hers attesting to the harrassment to the insurance company. Meanwhile the ex was notified that he was named beneficiary and has been demanding a death certificate from me, the coroner, the life insurance company, and her retirement plan holder. He wanted a death certificate even before her funeral. What do you think my chances of winning this case are. I was told that everything would go in front of a rewiew board.

Total Comments: 6

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 12:59 am Post Subject:

Between the time of the break up and her death the ex- boyfriend and his new girlfreind harrassed my sister constantly. I did notify the insurance company that I was contesting the ex as beneficiary. When we were packing my sisters belongings my daughter found a change of beneficiary form that was signed and dated four days prior to her death, two days before she asked me for my social; but the place to name the beneficary was destroyed and was unreadable . . . I sent this paper along with all her bills and funeral bill, and signed letters from freinds of hers attesting to the harrassment to the insurance company.


Unfortunately, it is all too late. Unless there is criminal involvement on the part of the named beneficiary in the death of your sister, the insurance proceeds are his, and there is nothing in the law that will support your challenge to his receipt of the death benefit.

Doesn't matter who altered the Change of Beneficiary form -- it could have been your sister. What matters is that she never sent it to the insurance company BEFORE her death. Sending it after the fact is meaningless -- people would do this every day of the week if they could.

Meanwhile the ex was notified that he was named beneficiary and has been demanding a death certificate from me, the coroner, the life insurance company, and her retirement plan holder.


There is some misinformation here. The "ex" doesn't make demands for death certificates from you or the insurance company or the coroner. Death certificates come from the state or local Health Dept in most parts of the US. or whatever the name of the agency that compiles "vital statistics" in your area.

What do you think my chances of winning this case are. I was told that everything would go in front of a rewiew board.


Who told you this? Your chances of "winning" are infinitessimally small. As in less than no chance, unless you can prove that the "ex" murdered your sister. Then he would be disqualified.

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 03:29 am Post Subject:

I live in PA and in order for him to get a death certificate he would have to get it from me. The Dept of Vital Statistics will only give them to immediate family. The insurance company told me that it would go in front of a review board.

Posted: Mon Sep 10, 2012 05:26 am Post Subject:

I live in PA and in order for him to get a death certificate he would have to get it from me. The Dept of Vital Statistics will only give them to immediate family.


You are speaking of a "Certified" copy of the death certificate. Most states have adopted similar regulations. But that does not prevent anyone from obtaining an "Informational Copy" which insurance companies will not reject when the beneficiary is not an immediate family member.

Don't expect any "review board" outcome to be in your favor. It's probably something they tell folks to avoid an argument at that moment. In the absence of criminal activity, which apparently is NOT the case, since you stated up front that your sister's death was considered an accident, there is no reason to deny the beneficiary's claim, especially when you don't have one at all.

Posted: Wed Jul 20, 2016 10:48 pm Post Subject: accidental drowning death

coroner ruled manner accidental,cause accidental. INSURANCE company contesting

Posted: Mon Aug 15, 2016 07:32 am Post Subject:

Terrific. What is your question?

Posted: Fri Oct 05, 2018 08:27 pm Post Subject: Contesting what cornor ruling

I don't understand that

Add your comment

Image CAPTCHA
Enter the characters shown in the image.