Certified Death Certificate: The mortician will obtain copies of the Death Certificate for you. If you do not require the mortician's services,
you may obtain the Death Certificate yourself. If death occurred outside of United States, an official of the American Consulate should certify the Death.
Accidental claims only : Police Reports, newspaper clippings or any additional information you have on the accident. You may get the Police Report by calling L. A. County Coroner's Office at (323) 343-0512.
Minor Beneficiary only: When the beneficiary is a minor, there are three options:
Settlement Option Form: The benefit will remain in an interest account until the minor reaches 18 years of age
Guardianship Papers: The benefit will be paid to the appointed Guardian of the estate of the minor.
Go to Probate Court Clerk office and request the forms for Guardianship of the Estate of the Minor.
Fill in the form with black ink.
Talk with probate attorney (only available specific days of the week, ex. Wednesdays)
Pay $696.50 fee.
Investigator talks with the child and the Guardian
Court date.
This process can take from 4 to 6 months
If an attorney gets the papers for you, it may cost you about $2,000
Transfer Under the California Uniform Transfers to Minors Act and Acknowledgment of Delivery”: Minor authorizes a family member to receive his/her benefit.
Do You Have Your Forms Yet?
Funeral Fees
If you have not taken care of any burial fees, the named beneficiary may sign a Funeral Home Assignment and the United States Life Insurance Company will pay for funeral and/or cemetery fees directly from the policy.
To sign a FHA, contact a mortician and assemble all services needed. Without releasing the amount of the benefit you are entitled to, please ask the mortician to contact us.
Click here for a list of additional contacts you may need to call to further your claim process.
Additional Information
Benefits
The United States Life Insurance Company usually pays the life benefit in two weeks and accidental
benefit in one month after receiving the required paperwork. This is the case for the 99% of the claims.
Delays Can Happen:
Contestability : If the deceased had been insured for less than 2 years, the insurance company will investigate if the statements in the application were accurate. This procedure will take two or three months.
Coroner’s Report: (Accidental Death claim) Sometimes the Coroner’s office is months behind
Minor Beneficiary: If the beneficiary is a minor, the payment will take between 2 weeks to years.
Inappropriate beneficiary statements will delay the payment from 5 to 16 months. For instance:
Beneficiary: "Loretta Tillman (mother) for my kids John and Linda". The beneficiary is the mother, but the intention is to provide for her kids. This case should go to court, because the insurance company can pay the mother but cannot make sure that the kids will be taken care of.
Beneficiary: "Mary Smith (friend)". The deceased was separated but never divorced; the legal spouse Martha X claims for 50% of the benefit, according to California law of community property. This case should go to court.
