Do You Get Life Insurance if Someone Kills Themselves?

Life insurance policies offer a fundamental financial safeguard, providing a death benefit to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death. They are contracts outlining terms for financial security. Life insurance protects a policyholder’s loved ones financially, helping them manage expenses and maintain stability. It provides peace of mind by establishing a future financial resource for dependents.

The Suicide Exclusion Clause

Life insurance policies commonly include a “suicide clause” or “suicide exclusion.” This clause prevents individuals from buying a policy with intent of self-harm for a payout. It specifies a timeframe during which the death benefit will not be paid if the insured dies by suicide.

The typical timeframe for the suicide exclusion is one to two years from the policy’s issue date, though the duration varies by state and insurer. If suicide occurs within this period, the insurer does not pay the full death benefit. Instead, the policy dictates that premiums paid are refunded to the beneficiary, less any outstanding loans or premiums. This refunds the policyholder’s financial investment.

If suicide occurs after this exclusion period, the life insurance policy generally covers the death. The full death benefit is paid to beneficiaries if all other policy conditions are met. This common provision balances financial protection with misuse prevention.

The Policy Contestability Period

In addition to the suicide exclusion, life insurance policies include a “contestability period.” This timeframe, lasting one to two years from the policy’s issuance, allows the insurer to investigate the accuracy of information provided in the original application. It protects insurers from fraud and material misrepresentations.

During this contestability period, insurers review statements about the insured’s health history, lifestyle, and other relevant factors. If the company discovers material misrepresentations—information that would have changed underwriting or premiums—it may deny a claim. Undisclosed medical conditions, inaccurate smoking status, or misstated dangerous hobbies can lead to a claim denial within this period, even if unrelated to the cause of death. The insurer’s ability to deny a claim is limited once this period expires.

After the contestability period, a policy becomes “incontestable.” This means the insurer cannot deny a claim based on initial application inaccuracies, except for proven fraud. While the suicide clause is a specific exclusion, the contestability period allows wider scrutiny of the application for truthfulness. It ensures the policy was issued based on accurate information, safeguarding the agreement’s integrity.

Submitting a Life Insurance Claim

When an insured dies, beneficiaries must promptly notify the life insurance company to initiate a claim. Contact can be made directly to the insurer or through the agent. Providing the policy number, insured’s full name, and date of death expedites the process.

Documentation is required to support the claim. A certified death certificate is official proof of death. Beneficiaries obtain this from the funeral home or local health department. The cause of death on the certificate is important, informing the insurer’s review, especially if it indicates a cause under policy exclusions like suicide within the exclusionary period.

In addition to the death certificate, the beneficiary completes the insurer’s claim forms. These forms request personal details about the beneficiary and insured, and sometimes the original policy document. Once documents are gathered and forms completed, they are submitted to the insurance company. After submission, the insurer reviews the claim, which may involve further investigation or requests for additional information, before making a payout decision.