What to do when a Aspida account holder dies
Contact Aspida — 6-step process, 6 required documents, and varies; annuity death benefits bypass probate and are paid directly to named beneficiaries once a complete claim packet is received
Aspida Customer Service
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
Aspida Customer Service
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
Aspida Client Support (death benefit claims)
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
A death claim on a Aspida policy is filed through the Aspida Client Support (death benefit claims) ((833) 427-7432). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Aspida offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Aspida:
Filing a claim
- Call Aspida Client Support at (833) 427-7432 (1-833-4-ASPIDA), Monday-Friday 9:00am-6:00pm ET
- Or email ClientSupport@aspida.com
- Provide the deceased's full legal name, date of death, and annuity contract number
- Completed and signed death benefit claim form / claimant statement (one per beneficiary)
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary
- IRS Form W-9 for each beneficiary
- Lump sum payment
- Systematic withdrawals over time
- Annuitization (periodic payments)
- Surviving-spouse beneficiaries may instead elect spousal continuation and keep the contract in force as the new owner (see notes)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of the death certificate
- Completed death benefit claim form / claimant statement (provided by Aspida; one per beneficiary)
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary
- IRS Form W-9 for each beneficiary
- Trust documentation (Certificate of Trust and trustee ID, if a trust is named as beneficiary)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if no beneficiary is named and proceeds go through the estate)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
If the owner or annuitant dies before the maturity date, beneficiaries receive the full contract value with no withdrawal charges or market value adjustment (MVA) applied; for the DreamPath RILA the death benefit is the greater of the contract value or the minimum guaranteed surrender value. Annuity death benefits are paid directly to named beneficiaries and bypass probate; if no beneficiary is named, proceeds are payable to the estate. Distribution timing follows IRC 72(s) for non-qualified annuities: a non-spouse beneficiary must generally either take the entire interest within 5 years of the owner's death (the "5-year rule") or begin lifetime/annuitized payments within one year of death. A surviving spouse named as sole beneficiary may instead elect spousal continuation -- stepping in as the new owner and keeping the contract and its tax deferral in force -- rather than taking a death benefit. Inherited qualified (IRA/Roth IRA) annuities are additionally subject to the SECURE Act inherited-account rules, which generally require most non-spouse beneficiaries to fully distribute within 10 years. Aspida administers its own contracts; there is one Client Support line for both service and claims.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Aspida
Aspida asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Aspida requires.
Build your letter of instructionProcessing timelines at Aspida: Varies; annuity death benefits bypass probate and are paid directly to named beneficiaries once a complete claim packet is received. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Documentation required by Aspida includes Certified copy of the death certificate, Completed death benefit claim form / claimant statement (provided by Aspida; one per beneficiary), and Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
When the owner or annuitant dies before the maturity date, Aspida pays the full contract value to the named beneficiaries with no withdrawal charges or market value adjustment (MVA) applied. Beneficiaries receive a death benefit claim packet from Aspida and must submit a certified death certificate, government-issued photo ID, and IRS Form W-9. Payout options include a lump sum, systematic withdrawals, or annuitization. Annuity death benefits bypass probate and are paid directly to named beneficiaries. If no beneficiary is named, proceeds are payable to the estate. Non-spouse beneficiaries must generally take distributions within IRS-specified timeframes.
Annuity contracts are generally not retitled into the name of a trust during the owner's lifetime, because changing ownership of an annuity can trigger taxable recognition of gain and may affect the tax-deferred status of the contract. The standard approach is to keep the contract in the individual owner's name and name your revocable trust as the primary or contingent beneficiary. The death benefit will then be paid directly to the trust, bypassing probate. Consult your tax advisor before changing ownership of any annuity contract.
Yes. A surviving spouse named as the sole beneficiary of an Aspida annuity may elect spousal continuation -- stepping in as the new contract owner and keeping the contract and its tax-deferred status in force -- rather than receiving a death benefit payout. This is an option only for a spouse beneficiary. Non-spouse beneficiaries instead take the death benefit under IRC 72(s): for a non-qualified annuity they generally must distribute the entire interest within 5 years of the owner's death, or begin lifetime/annuitized payments within one year of death. Inherited IRA or Roth IRA annuities are additionally subject to the SECURE Act rules, which generally require most non-spouse beneficiaries to fully distribute within 10 years. To elect spousal continuation, contact Aspida Client Support at (833) 427-7432.
Aspida's Aspida Client Support (death benefit claims) can be reached by phone at (833) 427-7432 and email at ClientSupport@aspida.com for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Aspida policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Aspida Client Support (death benefit claims) to confirm what applies.
Sources
Data sourced from Aspida primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Aspida Customer Service
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
Aspida Customer Service
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
Aspida Client Support (death benefit claims)
Aspida Life Insurance Company, 2327 Englert Drive, Durham, NC 27713
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