Your life insurance claim was denied. We fight to get it paid.
Kadetskaya Law Firm LLC represents beneficiaries and policyowners whose life insurance claims have been wrongfully denied or delayed. We have recovered millions — including a recent $1.1 million interpleader settlement and a $1 million lapsed policy recovery.
Free consultation — no fees unless we win
Free consultation — no fees unless we win
What our clients say
TESTIMONIAL 1:
"Tatiana came to our rescue. She called me within minutes of leaving my message online. Within months, my mother was able to receive her life insurance payment."
— Client, life insurance denial case
TESTIMONIAL 2:
"I was told by other attorneys not to expect the insurance company to award the claim. Tatiana cited case law and expert witness assessment in the appeal — the insurance company immediately awarded the full policy amount."
— Client, ERISA denial case
TESTIMONIAL 3:
"I fought the insurance company for over a year then found Tatiana. Not only did the insurance company pay the accidental death claim, she also found other money rightfully mine. She gave me hope and changed my life."
— Client, accidental death claim
TESTIMONIAL 4:
"Tatiana was responsible for positively settling a case I had all but given up on. Results moved along rapidly compared to my previous lawyer. Results were better than I ever expected."
— Client, denied life insurance claim
1-888-510-2212
Free Consultation
Focused on Disputed Life Insurance Claims
Our practice concentrates on resolving:
• Denied Life Insurance Claims
Lapse
• Interpleader Lawsuits
• Beneficiary Disputes
• Divorce-Related Denials
• ERISA Life Insurance Denials
Accidental Death Claim Denials
We handle cases involving:
Individually purchased policies
Employer-provided group policies
Large six- and seven-figure death benefits
If your claim has been denied or delayed, do not assume the insurer is correct.
Call 888-510-2212
Free Case Review
Getting started is simple
STEP 1:
Call (888) 510-2212
Email: info@life-insurance-lawyer.com
We respond quickly — the same day.
STEP 2:
Free case evaluation
Tell us what happened. We review your denial letter, policy, and circumstances at no charge.
STEP 3:
We go to work
If we take your case, we handle everything — the insurer, the appeal, the litigation if needed.
STEP 4:
You get paid
We only collect a fee when we recover your benefits. No recovery, no fee.
If Your Life Insurance Claim Was Denied:
Do not accept the denial at face value.
Do not rely solely on the insurer’s summary of the policy.
Preserve all documents immediately.
Do not communicate in writing without understanding legal consequences.
Insurance companies evaluate whether beneficiaries will challenge their decision.
Speak with a lawyer
1-888-510-2212
Speak With a Life Insurance Attorney
If your life insurance claim has been denied, delayed, or placed into interpleader:
1-888-510-2212
There is no obligation to retain us after consultation.
But understanding your legal position early can protect significant benefits.
Handling Complex Insurance Disputes
We represent beneficiaries in disputes involving substantial life insurance benefits and complex legal issues.
Whether your case involves:
A denied claim
A beneficiary dispute
A divorce-related beneficiary issue
An ERISA group policy
An interpleader lawsuit
You deserve a clear explanation of your legal options.
1-888-510-2212
Frequently Asked Questions About Denied Life Insurance Claims
1. Can a life insurance company legally deny a claim after someone dies?
Yes — but only under specific circumstances. Common reasons include alleged misrepresentation during application, policy lapse arguments, beneficiary disputes, or coverage eligibility issues. Many denials are legally challengeable after review of the policy and claim file.
2. What is an interpleader lawsuit in a life insurance case?
An interpleader occurs when a life insurance company files a lawsuit asking a court to determine who should receive the death benefit — often due to competing beneficiary claims. These cases proceed in federal or state court and require immediate legal attention.
3. What if the life insurance policy was provided through an employer?
Employer-provided life insurance policies are often governed by
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (ERISA).
ERISA claims have strict appeal deadlines, limited evidence rules, and are usually decided by federal judges rather than juries. Early strategy is critical.
4. How long do I have to appeal a denied life insurance claim?
For ERISA-governed employer policies, beneficiaries typically have 180 days to appeal. Private individual policies may have different contractual deadlines. Failure to appeal properly can significantly affect legal rights.
5. Do life insurance companies reverse denials?
Yes. Some denials are reversed during the appeal process, particularly when the administrative record is properly developed or when coverage provisions were misapplied.
Media/Publications:
Featured on FOX 26 Houston (Texas)
“Many Families Not Applying for FEMA Funeral Coverage”
Tatiana Kadetskaya explains how life insurance policies generally cover deaths due to COVID-19 and clarifies common misconceptions about policy coverage and grace periods in the context of pandemic-related claims.
Watch the full interview
Featured In:
Investopedia — Quoted on accelerated (living) benefit denials and what policyholders must prove for approval. Read more.
InsuranceNewsNet — Byline: “Not All Life Insurance Policies Cover COVID-19 Deaths” (Expert Insights). Read more.
One Stop Life Insurance
Foreign death life insurance claims — documentation challenges, insurer scrutiny, and claim investigation issues. Read more.Kroetz v. John Hancock Life Insurance Company — Plaintiff’s attorney on class action alleging life insurance policy notice violations. Learn more.
Have Questions About Your Life Insurance Claim?
Call 1-888-510-2212 today
or Schedule a FREE consultation here
Life Insurance Dispute Attorney · Nationwide
When a Life Insurance Company Says No, We Make Them Pay
Life insurance exists for one reason: to pay your family when you die. When an insurance company denies or delays that payment, it is not just a financial setback — it is a betrayal of a promise made to the people who depended on that coverage. Kadetskaya Law Firm LLC was built to fight that denial and recover what your family is owed.
Attorney Tatiana Kadetskaya represents life insurance beneficiaries exclusively — not insurers, not employers, not both sides. Every case we take is against an insurance company that has wrongfully withheld a death benefit. We have recovered millions of dollars for beneficiaries across the country, including a $1.1 million interpleader settlement, a $1 million lapsed policy recovery, and numerous six-figure ERISA and accidental death claim recoveries.
We work on contingency — no fees unless we recover your benefits. There is no financial risk to you in calling us.
Claim denied or delayed? Call us today.
Free case review · No fees unless we win · Nationwide representation
Why Life Insurance Companies Deny Claims — and Why They're Often Wrong
Insurance companies deny life insurance claims for reasons that sound legitimate in a denial letter but frequently do not hold up under legal scrutiny. Understanding the basis of a denial is the first step to challenging it successfully. These are the most common reasons insurers use to withhold death benefits — and the legal arguments that overcome them.
Policy lapse
Insurers claim the policy lapsed due to non-payment. But state lapse laws, grace period requirements, and waiver doctrines frequently override these arguments. Learn more →
Material misrepresentation
Insurers allege the insured lied on the application. But misrepresentation claims require proof the answer was false, material, and made with intent — a high bar many insurers cannot meet. Learn more →
Accidental death exclusions
AD&D claims are denied based on alcohol, pre-existing conditions, or alleged illegal activity. These exclusions are often applied too broadly and can be challenged. Learn more →
Beneficiary disputes
Competing claimants or disputed designation changes lead insurers to withhold payment or file interpleader. We represent the rightful beneficiary in these disputes. Learn more →
ERISA claim denials
Employer-provided group policies are governed by ERISA, with strict appeal deadlines and limited court review. Early legal involvement is critical to preserving your rights. Learn more →
Divorce and beneficiary issues
Divorce creates complex beneficiary questions — especially for ERISA plans, SGLI, and FEGLI. A divorce decree does not automatically change who gets paid. Learn more →
Our Life Insurance Practice Areas
We represent beneficiaries in all types of life insurance disputes — individual policies, employer group plans, military coverage, and federal employee benefits. Every case we take is handled by Attorney Tatiana Kadetskaya personally.
How We Handle a Denied Life Insurance Claim
Every case begins with a free, confidential review of your denial letter, your policy, and the circumstances surrounding the claim. We tell you honestly whether we believe the denial is legally challengeable — and what your realistic options are. We do not take cases we do not believe we can win.
- We obtain the complete claims file from the insurer, including all internal communications and investigation records
- We analyze the policy language against the stated basis for denial — many denials misapply or misread policy terms
- For ERISA claims, we develop the administrative appeal record with medical evidence, expert opinions, and legal argument before any litigation
- For individual policies, we pursue bad faith claims where the insurer's conduct warrants additional damages beyond the policy benefit
- We negotiate directly with insurers in appropriate cases — and litigate aggressively when they refuse to pay what is owed
- We handle all communication with the insurance company so you can focus on your family
"I was told by other attorneys not to expect the insurance company to award the claim. Tatiana cited case law and expert witness assessment in the appeal — the insurance company immediately awarded the full policy amount."
— Client, ERISA denial caseWho We Represent
We represent individual beneficiaries — surviving spouses, children, parents, and named beneficiaries — whose life insurance claims have been denied, delayed, or disputed. We do not represent insurance companies. We do not represent employers. We represent the people left behind who are owed a benefit and cannot get it paid.
Our clients include:
- Surviving spouses whose claim was denied for alleged misrepresentation or policy lapse
- Children and parents who are the named beneficiary of a policy the insurer refuses to pay
- Beneficiaries caught in interpleader actions where the insurer has paid money into court and walked away
- Divorced spouses navigating complex beneficiary designation disputes involving ERISA, SGLI, or FEGLI
- Military families whose SGLI or VGLI claim has been denied or delayed
- Federal employees and their families dealing with FEGLI claim issues
- Beneficiaries whose claim has been delayed for months with no explanation
- People going through divorce who want to protect life insurance rights before they become a dispute
Life Insurance Attorney — Representing Clients Nationwide
Kadetskaya Law Firm LLC represents life insurance beneficiaries across the United States. Because many life insurance disputes involve federal law — ERISA, SGLI, VGLI, FEGLI — we are able to represent clients regardless of which state the policy was issued in or where the insured lived.
We regularly handle cases for clients in Florida, Texas, California, New York, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, Michigan, New Jersey, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts, Tennessee, Colorado, and all other states. All consultations are conducted by phone or video — you do not need to travel.
Ready to talk about your claim?
Free consultation · No fees unless we win · Available by phone or video
Life Insurance Claim Questions — Answered
How long does a life insurance company have to pay a claim?
Most states require life insurance companies to pay or deny a claim within 30 to 60 days of receiving proof of death. Some states allow up to 90 days. If your claim has been pending longer than that with no decision, the delay may constitute bad faith — and legal action may be available to compel payment and recover additional damages.
What is the contestability period and how does it affect my claim?
Life insurance policies typically include a two-year contestability period during which the insurer can investigate and deny claims based on alleged misrepresentation in the application. After two years, the insurer generally cannot deny a claim on that basis — though some policies contain exceptions. If the insured died within two years of policy issuance and the claim was denied for misrepresentation, the denial may still be challengeable. Learn more about contestability.
What should I do immediately after a life insurance claim is denied?
First, preserve everything — the denial letter, the policy, all correspondence with the insurer. Do not sign anything the insurer sends you without legal review. Do not communicate further with the insurer in writing without understanding the legal implications. Contact a life insurance attorney as soon as possible — appeal deadlines are strict, particularly for ERISA-governed employer policies where you typically have 180 days to appeal.
Can I sue a life insurance company for denying my claim?
Yes. If a life insurance company wrongfully denies a claim, you can sue to recover the death benefit plus interest. In some states, if the denial was made in bad faith — meaning the insurer knew the claim was valid but denied it anyway — you may also be entitled to additional damages including attorney's fees and punitive damages. ERISA-governed plans have more limited remedies but can still be litigated in federal court.
How much does it cost to hire a life insurance attorney?
We work on a contingency fee basis — meaning you pay nothing unless we recover your benefits. Our fee is a percentage of the amount recovered. There are no upfront costs, no hourly fees, and no charge for the initial consultation. If we do not win, you owe us nothing.
What if the life insurance policy lapsed before the insured died?
A lapse denial is not always the end of the claim. State laws require insurers to follow specific notice and grace period procedures before a policy lapses. If those procedures were not followed, the policy may still be in force. Additionally, if the insurer accepted premiums after an alleged lapse, it may have waived the right to deny coverage. Learn more about lapse denials.