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(954) 478-0994Here for your family when it matters most
Filing a claim is the moment life insurance keeps its promise. Here is exactly what happens, what you'll need, and how we carry the process for you.
Start a claim
One call is all it takes
You don't need to figure anything out on your own. Contact us first — we take it from there and deal with the insurance carrier on your family's behalf.
Email us
Write "Claim" in the subject line and we'll respond within one business day.
info@evergreenridgeinsurance.com
What to expect
The claims process, step by step
Most claims follow the same four steps. We handle the paperwork and the follow-up so your family doesn't have to.
1
Contact us
Tell us what happened. If you can't find the policy documents, we can help locate the policy — that's part of our job.
2
We prepare the paperwork
We request the carrier's claim forms, help you complete them, and tell you exactly which documents are needed.
3
We file & follow up
We submit everything to the insurer and stay on top of the claim until it's resolved — you get updates, not runaround.
4
The benefit is paid
Once the insurer has complete documentation, straightforward claims are typically paid within a few weeks, directly to the beneficiaries.
What you'll typically need
- A certified death certificate — usually ordered through the funeral home or the county; carriers generally require a certified copy, not a photocopy.
- The policy number — if you don't have it, we can help identify the policy from the insured's name and details.
- The carrier's claim form — we obtain it and help each beneficiary complete it correctly the first time.
- Beneficiary identification — a government-issued ID for each person receiving the benefit.
That's usually all. If the carrier requests anything else — for example, in the rare case of a claim within the policy's first two years — we'll explain why and help you respond.
Honest answers about claims
Skeptical questions deserve straight answers, so here are the facts most agencies don't volunteer:
- The overwhelming majority of life insurance claims are paid. Industry studies consistently put the figure above 98%. Insurers pay out tens of billions of dollars in death benefits to American families every year.
- The main reasons a claim is contested are a policy that lapsed for non-payment, or a material misstatement on the application discovered during the first two years (the "contestability period"). This is exactly why we insist on accurate applications — it protects your family later.
- Death benefits are generally income-tax-free to beneficiaries. Exceptions are rare and usually involve large estates or unusual ownership structures — consult a tax professional for your situation.
Claims questions
Frequently asked
Once the insurer has a complete claim package — certified death certificate and completed forms — straightforward claims are commonly paid within two to six weeks. Claims within the first two policy years, or with incomplete paperwork, can take longer. We track every claim until it's paid.
Contact us anyway. If the policy was placed through Evergreen Ridge, we have the records. If you're not sure where a policy was purchased, the NAIC's free Life Insurance Policy Locator can search insurers nationwide — we'll help you use it.
In most cases, no — beneficiaries receive the death benefit free of income tax. Interest the insurer pays on delayed proceeds is taxable, and very large estates may face estate-tax considerations. We recommend confirming specifics with a tax professional.
Denials are rare and must be explained in writing. You have the right to appeal with the carrier and to file a complaint with your state's Department of Insurance (in Florida, the Department of Financial Services). If it ever happens to a policy we placed, we advocate for the family through the appeal at no cost.
No. Most carriers offer options: a lump sum, installments over a period of years, or an interest-bearing account you can draw from. We'll walk beneficiaries through the choices with no pressure.
We answer, day one
Questions about a policy or a claim?
Call us — even if the policy wasn't placed through us. We'll point you in the right direction, free of charge.