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 (annuity & life policies issued 9/1/2020 or later)
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
Customer Service (annuity & life policies issued 9/1/2020 or later)
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
Death Claims
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
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
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for the beneficiary
- 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
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)
Claims Contact
What to know at this institution
All beneficiaries listed on the contract will be contacted and receive a claim form packet. Per Delaware Life's FAQ, death notifications can be submitted by email or by phone at 800-374-3714; the death claims team then sends a packet to the address on file. Completed claim forms and supporting documents return to the address provided in that packet.
Prepare your letter of instruction to Delaware Life
Delaware Life asks for a letter of instruction alongside its claim form. We prepare a transmittal cover letter and the enclosure checklist Delaware Life requires.
Build your letter of instructionHow 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 (use 877-253-2323 for policies issued on or before 8/30/2020); per Delaware Life's FAQ, death notifications may also be submitted by email, with the current claims notification address available from customer service. 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.
Delaware Life's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-374-3714 and fax at 1-800-883-9165 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.
Sources
Data sourced from Delaware Life primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Customer Service (annuity & life policies issued 9/1/2020 or later)
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
Customer Service (annuity & life policies issued 9/1/2020 or later)
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
Death Claims
P.O. Box 80428, Indianapolis, IN 46280-0428 (forms); express/overnight: 10555 Group 1001 Way, Zionsville, IN 46077
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