What to do when a Cincinnati Life account holder dies
Contact Cincinnati Life — 7-step process, 15 required documents, and claims are generally paid within 3-5 business days after receipt of all necessary documents and approval of the claim. cincinnati life follows up at least every 30 days for any outstanding requirements.
Life Policy Services
Phone1-800-783-4479
Toll-Free1-800-783-4479
Fax(513) 870-2099
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Life Policy Services, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
General Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Policy Services
Phone1-800-783-4479
Toll-Free1-800-783-4479
Fax(513) 870-2099
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Life Policy Services, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
General Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Claims
Phone1-888-212-6970
Toll-Free1-888-212-6970
Fax(513) 870-2969
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Attn: Life Claims, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
Claims Reporting (24/7)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Filing a death claim on a Cincinnati Life policy begins with notifying the Life Claims at 1-888-212-6970. 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 can be initiated by phone at 1-888-212-6970 or by sending documentation to life-healthclaims@cinfin.com. Have the account holder's full name, account numbers, and a certified death certificate available when making initial contact.
Death claim process
The death claim process at Cincinnati Life works as follows:
Filing a claim
1
Locate the Cincinnati Life policy documents and note the policy number
2
Report the death through one of these contact methods:
- Contact your local independent insurance agent, who can help initiate the claim process
- Call Cincinnati Life Claims at 888-212-6970 (Monday-Friday 7:45am-4:30pm ET)
- Email life-healthclaims@cinfin.com
3
A claims representative will mail, email, or fax a Claimant's Statement for Life Insurance Benefits form to the beneficiary along with an explanation of the requirements (state-specific forms exist for California and for IN, KY, MD, NC, NJ, NY, RI)
4
Obtain certified copies of the death certificate:
- Request from the state or local health department or the funeral home that performed services
- An original death certificate showing the final cause and manner of death is required when the face amount equals $100,000 or more; a copy may be submitted if total coverage is less
- A certified death certificate with a pending cause of death cannot be used to process a claim
5
Complete and return the Claimant's Statement form with the certified death certificate:
- If the original policy is lost, note this on the claim form
- If a name change occurred due to marriage or divorce, provide a copy of the marriage certificate or divorce decree; if changed for personal preference, provide a court document
6
Additional requirements based on settlement path:
- If benefits are payable to an estate, a court-appointed representative must complete the Claimant's Statement and provide a copy of the appointment papers; if there is no estate, contact an attorney or county probate court about small-estate administration
- If benefits are payable to a trust, each trustee must sign a Claimant's Statement and complete a Trustee Certification form provided by Cincinnati Life (a copy of the trust is not required)
- If a beneficiary is a minor, a guardian of the minor's estate must be named to accept the proceeds
7
Cincinnati Life follows up at least every 30 days for any outstanding requirements
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate showing final cause and manner of death (original required when face amount equals $100,000 or more; copy accepted if total coverage is under $100,000)
- Completed Claimant's Statement for Life Insurance Benefits form (state-specific forms provided by Cincinnati Life after claim is reported)
- Original policy document (if lost, note on the claim form)
- Policy number, insured's name, address, Social Security number, and date of birth
- Date of death and current mailing or email address for the beneficiary/claimant
- Agent's Certification from the agent who completed the application (for contestable claims)
- Physician's statement completed by the insured's primary physician (for contestable claims within two years of issue or reinstatement)
- Authorization for Release of Information (included in Claimant's Statement, for contestable claims)
- Medical provider names and addresses (for contestable claims)
- Marriage certificate or divorce decree if name was changed due to marriage or divorce
- Court document if name was changed due to personal preference
- Signed Trustee Certification form for each trustee and trustee identification (if a trust is the beneficiary; a copy of the trust document is not required)
- Court appointment papers (if benefits are payable to an estate)
- Copy of primary beneficiary's death certificate (if claiming as contingent beneficiary)
- Voided check (if selecting Electronic Funds Transfer as payment method)
When a primary beneficiary dies before the insured, benefits are paid to any remaining primary beneficiaries. If there are no remaining primary beneficiaries, proceeds are paid to any named contingent beneficiaries (a copy of the primary beneficiary's death certificate is required). If no beneficiary survives the insured, benefits are payable to the insured's estate, and a court-appointed representative must complete the Claimant's Statement and provide a copy of the appointment papers. If there is no estate, contact an attorney or the county probate court about small-estate administration. Payment options include a lump sum by check or Electronic Funds Transfer (requires a voided check), a Benefit Access Account (where available), or one of the settlement options listed in the policy. Proceeds can also be paid directly to a funeral home or third party if the beneficiary executes an assignment of benefits form. Life insurance benefits are generally not taxable to the beneficiary, though any interest paid may be taxed. If a trust is the beneficiary, Cincinnati Life provides a Trustee Certification form for the trustee to complete (a copy of the trust is not required). If there are multiple trustees, each must sign a claim form and Trustee Certification. If a beneficiary is a minor, a guardian of the minor's estate must be named to accept the proceeds. Claims documents can be sent by email to life-healthclaims@cinfin.com, by fax to 513-870-2969, or by mail. Contact your local independent insurance agent for personalized assistance with the claims process.
Expected timelines at Cincinnati Life: Claims are generally paid within 3-5 business days after receipt of all necessary documents and approval of the claim. Cincinnati Life follows up at least every 30 days for any outstanding requirements. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Cincinnati Life requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified death certificate showing final cause and manner of death (original required when face amount equals $100,000 or more; copy accepted if total coverage is under $100,000), Completed Claimant's Statement for Life Insurance Benefits form (state-specific forms provided by Cincinnati Life after claim is reported), and Original policy document (if lost, note on the claim form), 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
Call Cincinnati Life Claims at 888-212-6970 (Monday-Friday 7:45am-4:30pm ET) or email life-healthclaims@cinfin.com. You can also contact your local independent insurance agent for assistance. A claims representative will mail, email, or fax a Claimant's Statement for Life Insurance Benefits form along with an explanation of the requirements. Complete and return the form with a certified death certificate showing the final cause and manner of death. An original death certificate is required when the face amount equals $100,000 or more; a copy may be submitted if total coverage is less. Claims are generally paid within 3-5 business days after receipt of all necessary documents. Submit documents by email to life-healthclaims@cinfin.com, fax to 513-870-2969, or mail to The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Attn: Life Claims, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496.
When a primary beneficiary dies before the insured, benefits are paid to any remaining primary beneficiaries. If there are no remaining primary beneficiaries, proceeds are paid to any named contingent beneficiaries. A copy of the primary beneficiary's death certificate is required when contingent beneficiaries are claiming. If no beneficiary survives the insured, benefits are payable to the insured's estate, and a court-appointed representative must complete the Claimant's Statement and provide a copy of the appointment papers. Naming both primary and contingent beneficiaries helps prevent delays.
If you believe a deceased family member had a Cincinnati Life policy but cannot locate documentation, contact Cincinnati Life Policy Services at 800-783-4479 and provide the deceased's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and date of death. Cincinnati Life can search their records for any policies. You can also check the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator, a free service that searches participating insurance company records. Additionally, review bank statements for premium payment records, check the deceased's mail for correspondence from Cincinnati Life, and look through personal files for policy documents.
Cincinnati Life offers several payment options for death benefit proceeds: a lump sum by check, Electronic Funds Transfer (a voided check is required), a Benefit Access Account (where available), or one of the settlement options listed in the policy. Proceeds can also be paid directly to a funeral home or third party if the beneficiary executes an assignment of benefits form. If a trust is the beneficiary, the trustee receives proceeds for distribution according to the trust terms. Life insurance death benefits are generally not subject to federal income tax, though any interest earned may be taxable.
Cincinnati Life's Life Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-212-6970, email at life-healthclaims@cinfin.com, and fax at (513) 870-2969 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Cincinnati Life policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Life Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Life Policy Services
Phone1-800-783-4479
Toll-Free1-800-783-4479
Fax(513) 870-2099
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Life Policy Services, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
General Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Policy Services
Phone1-800-783-4479
Toll-Free1-800-783-4479
Fax(513) 870-2099
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Life Policy Services, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
General Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Claims
Phone1-888-212-6970
Toll-Free1-888-212-6970
Fax(513) 870-2969
Mailing Address
The Cincinnati Life Insurance Company, Attn: Life Claims, P.O. Box 145496, Cincinnati, OH 45250-5496
Claims Reporting (24/7)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026