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Auto-Owners Life

Subsidiary of Auto-Owners Insurance Group

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What to do when an Auto-Owners Life account holder dies

Report the death to Auto-Owners Life's Claims at 1-888-252-4626

When an insured person dies, the beneficiary or executor should contact Auto-Owners Life's Claims at 1-800-346-0346 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 Auto-Owners Life at 1-800-346-0346. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and the death certificate ready before you call.

Death claim process

The death claim process at Auto-Owners Life works as follows:

Filing a claim

1
Report the death to the independent agent who services the policy. Auto-Owners directs every claim through the agent: "Contact your independent agent first."
  • The agency's name is printed on policy and billing documents, and shown under Contact Us in online access.
2
If the agent is unavailable, or after hours, call 1-888-252-4626. Auto-Owners provides 24-hour claim service, including weekends and holidays.
3
For life or disability income policy service, call the Life & Health line at 1-800-346-0346 ext. 51860 (Monday-Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. EST).
  • The "Life Email" topic on the Contact Us page sends a written question to the life company.
4
Auto-Owners issues the claim forms for the policy. There is no life claim form to download from its website.
5
Return the completed claim form and the documents through the agent, or by mail to Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company, 6101 Anacapri Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917.
6
Track the claim in online access, or ask the agent for the assigned claim representative.

Required Documents

  • Claim form, after the claim is reportedAuto-Owners provides it; there is no public download.
  • Certified death certificate
  • Government-issued photo ID, for each beneficiary
  • Policy number and the deceased person's information
  • Trust documents and trustee identification, when a trust is the beneficiary
  • Beneficiary election, for an annuity contractThe beneficiary's choice between a surviving spouse continuing the contract and taking the proceeds.

Claims Contact

Forms Auto-Owners Life issues1

Life claim form packet

Completed by the beneficiary. Sent by the institution on request.1

What happens to each kind of account1

Annuity

Annuity funds pass directly to the beneficiaries with no surrender charges, and may avoid probate if payable to a named beneficiary. A surviving spouse may continue the contract.1

What Auto-Owners Life's agreement and guidance say1

How proceeds are paid

Auto-Owners offers electronic claim payment by direct deposit to a checking or savings account, Venmo, PayPal, or the Auto-Owners Claim Card, which is accepted wherever Visa debit cards are. It describes the payment as arriving in minutes once issued.1

Not in Auto-Owners Life's published guidance1

  • How long a claim takes

Sources1

Download instructions for the whole estate

Auto-Owners Life's Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-252-4626 and fax at 1-517-323-8796 for questions throughout the claims process.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Auto-Owners Life primary sources (14 pages reviewed). How we research.

Auto-Owners Life death claims support

Claims (reported through the servicing independent agent)

After-hours claim reporting

1-888-252-462624 hours a day, 7 days a week

Life & Health service line

1-800-346-0346 ext. 51860Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM ET

Fax

1-517-323-8796

Hours

Monday-Friday 8:00 AM-4:30 PM ET

Mailing address

Auto-Owners Life Insurance Company, 6101 Anacapri Blvd., Lansing, MI 48917-3968
Verified Sep 2026

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