What to do when a American Fidelity account holder dies
Contact American Fidelity — 12-step process, 8 required documents, and claims are generally processed within seven business days once all required documentation is received. direct deposit payments may arrive in as little as one day after processing. delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, the policy is within the two-year contestability period, or if the circumstances of death require further investigation.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-620-8915
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-620-8915
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
WebsiteLearn more →
Life and Annuity - Worksite
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-818-3453
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Filing a death claim on a American Fidelity policy begins with notifying the Life and Annuity - Worksite at 1-800-662-1113. Life insurance claims are separate from probate—proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries regardless of whether the estate goes through court. The timeline and documentation requirements depend on the policy type and cause of death.
American Fidelity provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Fidelity:
Filing a claim
1Locate the American Fidelity policy documents and note the policy number
2Obtain a certified copy of the death certificate from the local vital records office (a copy is accepted for policies with a face value under $25,000)
3Call American Fidelity at 800-662-1113 or email afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com to report the death and request the Claimant's Statement form (BN-151)
4American Fidelity will send the Claimant's Statement (BN-151) and filing instructions to the named beneficiary(ies)
5Complete the Claimant's Statement with policy and deceased information
6All U.S. beneficiaries must submit a completed IRS Form W-9 regardless of the amount of interest received
7If the policy is less than two years from the effective date or reinstatement date, additional documentation will be required
8If claiming an accidental death benefit, include a detailed police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings if applicable
9Mail documents to: American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
10Or fax to: 800-818-3453
11Or email to: afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com
12Set up direct deposit for fastest payment; claims with direct deposit may be paid in as little as one day after processing
Required Documents
- Completed Claimant's Statement form (BN-151)
- Certified death certificate showing final cause and manner of death (copy accepted for policies under $25,000 face value)
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- IRS Form W-9 for all U.S. beneficiaries
- Policy number and deceased's information
- Additional medical documentation (if policy is within two-year contestability period)
- Police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings (if claiming accidental death benefit)
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
Life insurance claims cannot be filed online through AFmobile; they must be submitted by mail, fax, or email. A Claimant's Statement (BN-151) and filing instructions are sent to the named beneficiary(ies) upon notification of the death. All U.S. beneficiaries must submit a Form W-9. If the policy is within the two-year contestability period, additional documentation will be required. For accidental death benefit claims, furnish a detailed police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings if applicable. For policies with a face value under $25,000, a copy of the death certificate is accepted; for $25,000 and over, a certified original is required. The location of death does not impact payment, including deaths outside the United States.
Processing timelines at American Fidelity: Claims are generally processed within seven business days once all required documentation is received. Direct deposit payments may arrive in as little as one day after processing. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, the policy is within the two-year contestability period, or if the circumstances of death require further investigation.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
American Fidelity requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed Claimant's Statement form (BN-151), Certified death certificate showing final cause and manner of death (copy accepted for policies under $25,000 face value), and Government-issued ID for the beneficiary, 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. You can name a trust as the beneficiary on American Fidelity life insurance and annuity policies. Use the format "The [Name] Trust dated [date], [Trustee Name] as Trustee" on the Change of Beneficiary form. This allows the death benefit to pay directly into the trust, bypassing probate. For annuity policies, use the Annuity Change of Beneficiary form (ANN-187). Contact American Fidelity at 800-662-1113 for assistance with trust beneficiary designations.
Yes. An ILIT can own an American Fidelity life insurance policy, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate. The trust can own the policy from inception, or an existing policy can be transferred to the trust, subject to a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes control. Contact American Fidelity at 800-662-1113 to request an assignment form for ILIT ownership transfer. American Fidelity does not set up ILITs; you must work with an estate attorney to establish one.
Call American Fidelity at 800-662-1113 or email afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com to report the death. A Claimant's Statement (form BN-151) and filing instructions will be sent to the named beneficiary(ies). Complete the form and submit it along with a certified death certificate (copy accepted for policies under $25,000) and IRS Form W-9 for each U.S. beneficiary. Mail to P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160, fax to 800-818-3453, or email to afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com. Life insurance claims cannot be filed online through AFmobile.
You will need a completed Claimant's Statement form (BN-151), a certified death certificate showing final cause and manner of death (copy accepted for policies under $25,000 face value), government-issued ID for the beneficiary, and an IRS Form W-9 for all U.S. beneficiaries. If the policy is within the two-year contestability period, additional medical documentation will be required. If claiming an accidental death benefit, include a police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings if applicable. If a trust is the beneficiary, trust documents and trustee identification are also required.
Claims are generally processed within seven business days once all required documentation is received. If you set up direct deposit, payment may arrive in as little as one day after processing. Delays may occur if documentation is incomplete, the policy is within the two-year contestability period, or the circumstances of death require further investigation. The location of death does not impact payment, including deaths outside the United States.
American Fidelity's Life and Annuity - Worksite can be reached by phone at 1-800-662-1113, email at afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com, and fax at 1-800-818-3453 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple American Fidelity policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Life and Annuity - Worksite can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-620-8915
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
WebsiteLearn more →
Customer Service
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-620-8915
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
WebsiteLearn more →
Life and Annuity - Worksite
Phone1-800-662-1113
Fax1-800-818-3453
Mailing Address
American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
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