What to do when a American Fidelity account holder dies
Contact American Fidelity — 7-step process, 7 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
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Customer Service
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Life and Annuity - Worksite
American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
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.
Death claims at American Fidelity can be started through an online portal, which streamlines the initial notification and document upload. Phone and mail options are also available.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at American Fidelity:
Filing a claim
- Complete the Claimant's Statement with policy and deceased information
- Each payee (including a trustee, estate administrator, or guardian of a minor) must submit a completed IRS Form W-9
- If the policy is less than two years from the effective date or reinstatement date, additional documentation will be required
- If claiming an accidental death benefit, include a detailed police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings if applicable
- Mail to: American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
- Or fax to: 800-818-3453
- Or email to: afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com
Required Documents
- Completed Statement of Claimant / Life Insurance Claim Form (BN-151)
- Certified death certificate showing the cause and manner of death
- IRS Form W-9 for each payee (beneficiary, assignee, trustee, estate administrator, or guardian of a minor)
- 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)
What to know at this institution
Life insurance claims cannot be filed online through AFmobile; they must be submitted by mail, fax, or email. The Life Insurance Claim Form / Statement of Claimant (form BN-151(WS)-0621) is available at americanfidelity.com/media/ggpdzbtl/bn-151.pdf and filing instructions are sent to the named beneficiary(ies) upon notification of the death. A certified death certificate showing cause and manner of death is required, plus a completed IRS Form W-9 for each payee. If the policy is within the two-year contestability period, additional documentation (including an Authorization to Use or Disclose Protected Information) will be required. For accidental death benefit claims, furnish a detailed police report, coroner's report, toxicology report, and newspaper clippings if applicable. Claims by an estate require certified appointment papers signed by the executor; a will is not accepted as proof of authority. If a trust is the beneficiary, the trustee signs on behalf of the trust and submits a copy of the trust certificate or memorandum of trust.
Prepare your letter of instruction to American Fidelity
American Fidelity provides its own letter-of-instruction form. Answer a few questions and we complete that official form for you to print and sign.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing 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 Statement of Claimant / Life Insurance Claim Form (BN-151), Certified death certificate showing the cause and manner of death, and IRS Form W-9 for each payee (beneficiary, assignee, trustee, estate administrator, or guardian of a minor), 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. 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 using the Ownership Change form (PS-140) available at https://americanfidelity.com/support/forms/. The three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035 applies: if the insured dies within three years of an ownership transfer, the death benefit may still be included in the taxable estate. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes control. All trustees must sign the form and submit the Declaration of Trust page. 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 Statement of Claimant / Life Insurance Claim 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 showing the cause and manner of death and an IRS Form W-9 for each payee. 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.
American Fidelity generally processes life insurance death claims within seven business days once all required documentation is received. Beneficiaries who set up direct deposit may receive payment in as little as one day after processing. To file a claim, call 800-662-1113 or email afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com. A Statement of Claimant / Life Insurance Claim Form (BN-151) and filing instructions will be sent to the named beneficiary(ies). Required documents include the completed claim form, a certified death certificate showing the cause and manner of death, and an IRS Form W-9 for each payee.
Yes. Policyholders can manage their American Fidelity insurance products and reimbursement accounts online at americanfidelity.com or through the AFmobile app. Online account access allows beneficiary updates for certain products, policy information review, and claims filing for supplemental insurance products through AFQuickClaims. Life insurance death claims cannot be filed online through AFmobile and must be submitted by mail, fax, or email to afa-life-claims@americanfidelity.com.
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.
Sources
Data sourced from American Fidelity primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Customer Service
American Fidelity Assurance Company, 9000 Cameron Parkway, Oklahoma City, OK 73114
Life and Annuity - Worksite
American Fidelity Assurance Company, Life and Annuity - Worksite, P.O. Box 25160, Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0160
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