What to do when a American Family account holder dies
Contact American Family — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and claims are processed after all necessary forms and documentation are received; settlement payment follows approval
Customer Service
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
Customer Service
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
Life Insurance Claims
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact American Family's Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-692-6326 ext. 78080 to start the claims process. Insurance proceeds are paid directly to the named beneficiary and do not go through probate. How quickly the claim is processed depends on the policy type, documentation, and cause of death.
To start, call American Family at 1-800-692-6326 ext. 78080. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate ready before you call.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Family:
Filing a claim
- Submit a claim online at amfam.com/customer/forms/report-a-life-insurance-claim
- Call 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326), ext. 78080
- Contact your local American Family Insurance agent in person
- Full name of the insured
- Date of birth
- State of residence
- State of death
- Life insurance policy number (if available)
- Date and manner of death
- Beneficiary contact information
- Beneficiary relationships to the insured
- Beneficiary dates of birth
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Funeral home contact information
- Completed claim forms as provided by American Family Life Insurance Company
- IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
- If a trust is the beneficiary: include trust documents and trustee identification
- Lump Sum Payment: receive the full benefit via check or Electronic Funds Transfer
- Retained Asset Account (RAA): interest-bearing draft account with $500 minimum withdrawal
- Interest Income: annual distributions of interest earned
- Fixed Period Payments: installments over 5 to 30 years
- Life Income: guaranteed lifetime payments
- Fixed Amount Payments: periodic payments of a specified amount
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Funeral home contact information
- Completed claim form(s) provided by American Family Life Insurance Company
- IRS Form W-9 (Request for Taxpayer Identification Number and Certification)
- Original policy or contract (if available)
- Trust documents and trustee identification (if a trust is the beneficiary)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
LIFE INSURANCE: claims are filed online at amfam.com/customer/forms/report-a-life-insurance-claim, by phone at 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78080, or through a local American Family agent, and paid to the named beneficiary outside probate. A claims representative assists beneficiaries with settlement options (lump sum, retained asset account, interest income, fixed period, life income, fixed amount). PROPERTY & CASUALTY (auto, home, renters): these policies pay no death benefit and are handled entirely differently. When the policyholder dies, the executor or personal representative should NOT file a life claim; instead notify American Family through the agent or the 24-hour line (1-800-692-6326), keep the vehicle or property insured while it remains an estate asset, and transfer the policy to the heir or trust that takes title or cancel it once the asset is sold or retitled. Any unearned premium refund is paid to the estate. Separate first-party claims (auto accident, home damage) are reported at amfam.com/claims or by texting STORM to AMFAM for wind/hail.
How long the process takes at American Family: Claims are processed after all necessary forms and documentation are received; settlement payment follows approval. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
American Family requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy of the death certificate, Funeral home contact information, and Completed claim form(s) provided by American Family Life Insurance Company, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Permanent policies (DreamSecure Whole Life, 15 Pay Whole Life, Flexible Life) and individual term policies (DreamSecure Choice Term, Simple Term) can be assigned to an Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT) so the death benefit sits outside your taxable estate. Have an attorney draft the ILIT first, then contact your American Family agent to complete the change-of-ownership paperwork transferring the policy to the trustee. American Family agents do not provide legal advice on trust setup. Assigning an existing policy starts a three-year IRS lookback, so ILITs are often set up to buy a new policy directly.
A property and casualty policy (auto, home, renters) pays no death benefit and has no beneficiary, so there is no life-style claim to file. When the policyholder dies, the executor or personal representative should notify American Family and keep the vehicle or home insured while it is part of the estate. Coverage is then transferred to the heir or trust that takes title (as a new policy) or cancelled once the asset is sold or retitled, with any unearned premium refunded to the estate. Report changes through your agent or the 24-hour line, 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326).
File online at amfam.com/customer/forms/report-a-life-insurance-claim, by calling 1-800-MYAMFAM (1-800-692-6326) ext. 78080, or through your local agent. You will need the insured's full name, date of birth, state of residence, state of death, and a certified death certificate; beneficiaries also complete claim forms and an IRS Form W-9. The benefit is paid to the named beneficiary outside probate. Settlement options include lump sum, a retained asset account ($500 minimum withdrawal), interest income, fixed period payments (5-30 years), life income, and fixed amount payments.
American Family offers fixed and indexed annuities through American Family Brokerage, Inc. in partnership with Protective Life Insurance Company; Protective is the issuer and pays claims. An annuity passes to the named beneficiary by contract, outside probate, and a trust can be named as beneficiary. The death benefit and any tax treatment depend on the Protective contract terms. Contact your American Family agent or Protective Life for the specific contract and claim process.
American Family's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-692-6326 ext. 78080 for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple American Family policies, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Life Insurance Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Sources
Data sourced from American Family primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
Customer Service
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
Life Insurance Claims
6000 American Parkway, Madison, WI 53783
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