What to do when a Brighthouse account holder dies
Contact Brighthouse — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and varies by claim complexity; standard claims typically processed within 5-10 business days of receiving all required documents
Customer Service Center
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4301, Clinton, IA 52733-4301 (variable contracts); P.O. Box 4363, Clinton, IA 52733-4363 (non-variable contracts)
Customer Service Center
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4301, Clinton, IA 52733-4301 (variable contracts); P.O. Box 4363, Clinton, IA 52733-4363 (non-variable contracts)
Claims Department
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4364, Clinton, IA 52733-4364; Overnight: 1315 19th Ave NW, Clinton, IA 52732-2752
Filing a death claim on a Brighthouse policy begins with notifying the Claims Department at 1-800-882-1292. 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.
Brighthouse 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
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Brighthouse requires:
Filing a claim
- Have the product type and contract or policy number ready (check the most recent statement)
- Brighthouse will mail the Claimant Statement Form to the beneficiary
- Obtain a certified death certificate from the county or state vital records office
- If the trust is the beneficiary: complete the Trust Certification form with Medallion Signature Guarantee
- Mail claims to: Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4364, Clinton, IA 52733-4364
- Fax claims documents to: (877) 246-8424
Required Documents
- Claimant Statement Form (provided by Brighthouse after claim is initiated)
- Certified death certificate (original or certified copy)
- Government-issued photo ID for each beneficiary
- Trust Certification form with Medallion Signature Guarantee (if trust is beneficiary)
- Certificate of Trust or relevant trust pages (if trust is beneficiary)
- Contract or policy number
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if claim is through the estate)
What to know at this institution
Settlement options are irrevocable once chosen, and not all options are available to all beneficiaries. Death Claim forms are available through the forms portal at forms.brighthousefinancial.com under the "Death Claim" category. When faxing, include the contract or policy owner's name, phone number, and the contract or policy number on all pages.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Brighthouse
Brighthouse asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Brighthouse requires.
Build your letter of instructionExpected timelines at Brighthouse: Varies by claim complexity; standard claims typically processed within 5-10 business days of receiving all required documents. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Brighthouse includes Claimant Statement Form (provided by Brighthouse after claim is initiated), Certified death certificate (original or certified copy), 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
Brighthouse routes forms based on contract type so they reach the correct servicing team. Variable annuity and life insurance forms: P.O. Box 4301, Clinton, IA 52733-4301. Non-variable (fixed) contract forms: P.O. Box 4363, Clinton, IA 52733-4363. Death claims: P.O. Box 4364, Clinton, IA 52733-4364. Overnight delivery to any team: 1315 19th Ave NW, Clinton, IA 52732-2752. Forms can also be faxed to (877) 246-8424.
Brighthouse's Claims Department can be reached by phone at 1-800-882-1292 and fax at 1-877-246-8424 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Brighthouse 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.
Sources
Data sourced from Brighthouse primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service Center
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4301, Clinton, IA 52733-4301 (variable contracts); P.O. Box 4363, Clinton, IA 52733-4363 (non-variable contracts)
Customer Service Center
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4301, Clinton, IA 52733-4301 (variable contracts); P.O. Box 4363, Clinton, IA 52733-4363 (non-variable contracts)
Claims Department
Brighthouse Financial, P.O. Box 4364, Clinton, IA 52733-4364; Overnight: 1315 19th Ave NW, Clinton, IA 52732-2752
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