What to do when a Brighthouse account holder dies

Expected 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.

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.