What to do when a Delaware Life account holder dies
Contact Delaware Life — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and claim packet mailed after death notification is received and verified. processing time depends on completeness of submitted documentation.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Customer Service (policies opened on or before 8/30/2020)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Customer Service (policies opened on or before 8/30/2020)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Verified Apr 2026
A death claim on a Delaware Life policy is filed through the Death Claims (1-800-374-3714). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Before contacting Delaware Life, have the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any available account numbers ready. A certified death certificate is required to initiate the claim.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at Delaware Life:
Filing a claim
1
Notify Delaware Life of the death by calling 800-374-3714 or emailing [email protected]
2
Provide the deceased's name, date of birth, date of death, and contract number
3
Delaware Life's death claims team sends a claim packet to all listed beneficiaries
4
Complete the applicable claim form from the claim packet
5
Gather required documentation:
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
6
Include additional documents based on beneficiary type:
- Trust beneficiaries: submit trust documents and trustee identification
- Estate beneficiaries: submit Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration
- Minor beneficiaries: submit court-approved Letters of Guardianship or Conservatorship
7
Return completed claim forms by mail or email to the address provided in the claim packet
Required Documents
- Completed claim form (from claim packet mailed by Delaware Life)
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- Contract or policy number and deceased's personal information
- Trust documents and trustee ID (if a trust is the beneficiary)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if estate is the beneficiary)
- Court-approved Letters of Guardianship or Conservatorship (if minor is the beneficiary)
All beneficiaries listed on the contract will be contacted and receive a claim form packet. Death notifications can be submitted by email to [email protected] or by phone at 800-374-3714.
How long the process takes at Delaware Life: Claim packet mailed after death notification is received and verified. Processing time depends on completeness of submitted documentation. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Delaware Life requires several documents to process a claim, including Completed claim form (from claim packet mailed by Delaware Life), 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
Notify Delaware Life of the death by calling 800-374-3714 or emailing [email protected]. Provide the deceased's name, date of birth, date of death, and contract number. The death claims team will send a claim packet to all listed beneficiaries. Complete the claim form and return it with a certified death certificate, government-issued photo ID, and any additional required documentation.
If beneficiaries are properly designated on your Delaware Life annuity contract, death benefits pass directly to the named beneficiaries without going through probate. This applies to both individual and trust beneficiaries. If no beneficiary is designated or all beneficiaries predecease the contract owner, the death benefit may be paid to the estate and require probate proceedings.
Delaware Life's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-374-3714 and email at [email protected] for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Delaware Life policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Death Claims to confirm what applies.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Customer Service (policies opened on or before 8/30/2020)
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Customer Service (policies opened on or before 8/30/2020)
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-374-3714
Email[email protected]
Mailing Address
P.O. Box 80099, Indianapolis, IN 46280
Verified Apr 2026
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