What to do when a Auto-Owners Life account holder dies
Contact Auto-Owners Life — 12-step process, 6 required documents, and life insurance claims are typically processed within 30 to 60 days after all required documentation is received. delays may occur if the policy is within the two-year contestability period, documentation is incomplete, or circumstances of death require investigation.
Phone1-517-323-1200
Toll-Free1-800-346-0346
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Insurance, PO Box 30660, Lansing, MI 48909
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-517-323-1200
Toll-Free1-800-346-0346
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Insurance, PO Box 30660, Lansing, MI 48909
WebsiteLearn more →
Claims Department
Phone1-800-346-0346
Toll-Free1-888-252-4626
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company, 6101 Anacapri Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Filing a death claim on a Auto-Owners Life policy begins with notifying the Claims Department at 1-800-346-0346. 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.
The claim process begins with a phone call to 1-800-346-0346. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Auto-Owners Life:
Filing a claim
1Locate the Auto-Owners life insurance or annuity policy documents and note the policy number
2Obtain certified copies of the death certificate from the local vital records office
3Contact your independent Auto-Owners agent as soon as possible to report the death and initiate the claim
4Or call Auto-Owners Life Insurance directly at 800-346-0346 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ET)
5For after-hours claims reporting, call 888-252-4626
6Auto-Owners will provide the appropriate claim forms
7Complete the life insurance claim form with policy and deceased information
8Submit a certified death certificate with the claim
9Provide beneficiary identification (government-issued photo ID)
10If a trust is the beneficiary, provide trust documents and trustee identification
11Submit all documents through your agent or by mail to Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company, 6101 Anacapri Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917
12Auto-Owners will review the claim and contact you if additional information is needed
Required Documents
- Completed life insurance claim form (provided by Auto-Owners after claim notification)
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- Policy number and deceased's information
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
- Physician's statement (if policy is within the two-year contestability period)
Contact your independent Auto-Owners agent first, as they can assist with the claims process and help gather required documentation. For after-hours claims reporting, call 888-252-4626. All Auto-Owners life insurance products are sold and serviced through independent agents, who serve as the primary point of contact for policyholders and beneficiaries throughout the claims process.
Processing timelines at Auto-Owners Life: Life insurance claims are typically processed within 30 to 60 days after all required documentation is received. Delays may occur if the policy is within the two-year contestability period, documentation is incomplete, or circumstances of death require investigation.. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
Auto-Owners Life requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed life insurance claim form (provided by Auto-Owners after claim notification), Certified death certificate, and Government-issued photo 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. An ILIT can own an Auto-Owners 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 via an assignment of ownership form, subject to a three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035. Once transferred, the grantor permanently relinquishes control. Auto-Owners does not establish ILITs; work with an estate attorney to create one.
Contact your independent Auto-Owners agent as soon as possible to report the death and initiate the claim. You can also call Auto-Owners Life Insurance directly at 800-346-0346 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM ET) or 888-252-4626 for after-hours reporting (weekdays 5:00 PM - 8:00 AM, 24 hours on weekends and holidays). You will need the policy number, a certified death certificate, and a completed claim form. Your agent will help guide you through the process.
Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company offers three types of individual life insurance: Level Term Life (10-, 20-, or 30-year terms with coverage extending up to age 95), Whole Life (permanent coverage up to age 110 with guaranteed cash values), and Universal Life (flexible permanent coverage with adjustable premiums and death benefits). Auto-Owners also offers deferred annuities (Item 500 and Item 501), Individual Retirement Annuities (IRAs), and disability income insurance. All products are sold exclusively through independent agents.
Yes. Beneficiary designations on Auto-Owners life insurance policies and annuities take precedence over instructions in a will. The named beneficiary receives the death benefit regardless of what the will states. Review and update beneficiary designations regularly, especially after major life events such as marriage, divorce, or the birth of a child.
Yes. A trust can be named as beneficiary on an Auto-Owners Individual Retirement Annuity (IRA). However, IRAs should generally not be retitled to a trust, as doing so may trigger immediate taxation of the entire account balance. Instead, name the trust as the IRA beneficiary on the Beneficiary Change Request form to achieve trust-based distribution at death while preserving the tax-deferred status during the owner's lifetime.
Auto-Owners Life's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-888-252-4626 and fax at 1-517-323-8796 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Auto-Owners Life policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Claims Department can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Phone1-517-323-1200
Toll-Free1-800-346-0346
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Insurance, PO Box 30660, Lansing, MI 48909
WebsiteLearn more →
Phone1-517-323-1200
Toll-Free1-800-346-0346
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Insurance, PO Box 30660, Lansing, MI 48909
WebsiteLearn more →
Claims Department
Phone1-800-346-0346
Toll-Free1-888-252-4626
Fax1-517-323-8796
Mailing Address
Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company, 6101 Anacapri Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917
WebsiteNotify online →
Verified Mar 2026
Tools for settling a Auto-Owners Life estate
Calculators and checklists to help navigate estate settlement after a Auto-Owners Life account holder passes away.
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Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
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