What to do when a Equitable account holder dies
Contact Equitable — 9-step process, 8 required documents, and approximately 5 business days for review if claim is complete; beneficiary continuation option elections due within 9 months of contract owner death
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-777-6510
Toll-Free1-800-777-6510
Fax1-855-268-6378
Mailing Address
Equitable, Life Operations, PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047
Annuity Claims
EQUI-VEST Claims
Death After Retirement/Group Pension
Employee Benefits Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
A death claim on a Equitable policy is filed through the Life Insurance Claims (1-800-777-6510). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Equitable provides an online portal for initiating death claims, which can simplify the initial notification and document submission process. Claims can also be started by phone or by mailing the required documents.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Equitable requires:
Filing a claim
1
Contact the applicable Equitable claims department or your financial professional:
- Life insurance claims: call (800) 777-6510
- Annuity claims: call (800) 789-7771
- EQUI-VEST claims: call (800) 628-6673
- Death after retirement/group pension/annuity benefits: call (800) 245-1230
- Employee benefits: call (866) 274-9887
- Life insurance claims: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM ET, Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET; other claims lines: Monday-Friday 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM ET
- Or file a claim online at equitable.com/hallmarks/start-claim
2
Request and complete the applicable claim form (Claim to Life Insurance Benefits or Claim to Annuity Benefits)
3
All beneficiaries listed on the policy or contract must submit claim forms
4
Submit a certified copy of the death certificate
5
For trusts: trustee completes forms on behalf of the trust with trust TIN
6
Choose a payment option:
- Lump sum distribution
- Periodic annuity payments
- Combination of lump sum and periodic payments
7
Mail completed claim forms to the address for your product type:
- Life insurance: Equitable, Life Operations, PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047
- Annuity: Equitable Retirement Service Solutions, PO Box 1016, Charlotte, NC 28201-1016 (express: 8501 IBM Dr., Suite 150-IR, Charlotte, NC 28262-4333)
- EQUI-VEST: Equitable, EQUI-VEST, PO Box 4956 MD 32-88, Syracuse, NY 13221
8
For annuity contracts: Beneficiary Continuation Option may be available if elected within 9 months
9
Equitable reviews and processes claim (approximately 5 business days if complete)
Required Documents
- Certified copy of death certificate
- Completed Claim to Life Insurance Benefits form or Claim to Annuity Benefits form (all beneficiaries must submit)
- Government-issued ID for each beneficiary
- Payment Option election form or Special Payment Plan form
- Original annuity contract (if available)
- Trust documents (if trust is beneficiary): title, appointment, and signature pages plus amendments
- Trust TIN (EIN)
- For foreign deaths: original death certificate with State Department form documenting U.S. citizenship
Multiple claims departments serve different product lines. Life insurance claims: (800) 777-6510. Annuity claims: (800) 789-7771. EQUI-VEST claims: (800) 628-6673. Death after retirement/group pension: (800) 245-1230. Employee benefits: (866) 274-9887. Life insurance and annuity claims: Monday-Thursday 8:30 AM - 7:00 PM ET, Friday 8:30 AM - 5:30 PM ET. Death benefit proceeds are typically taxed as ordinary income for annuities; consult a tax advisor.
How long the process takes at Equitable: Approximately 5 business days for review if claim is complete; Beneficiary Continuation Option elections due within 9 months of contract owner death. The most common reason for delays is missing or incomplete documentation, so submitting everything upfront is the best way to keep things moving.
Documentation required by Equitable includes Certified copy of death certificate, Completed Claim to Life Insurance Benefits form or Claim to Annuity Benefits form (all beneficiaries must submit), and Government-issued 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
The Beneficiary Continuation Option allows beneficiaries to continue the annuity contract instead of taking an immediate distribution. Elections must be received within 9 months of the deceased contract owner's death. For some contracts, a surviving spouse may continue the contract directly. If a trust elects the BCO, a Trustee Certification Form is also required.
File a claim online at equitable.com/hallmarks/start-claim or call the applicable claims line: life insurance at (800) 777-6510, annuity at (800) 789-7771, EQUI-VEST at (800) 628-6673, or death after retirement/group pension at (800) 245-1230. All beneficiaries listed on the policy or contract must submit claim forms along with a certified death certificate.
Available options may include a lump sum distribution, periodic annuity payment plan (a continuous stream of income), or a combination. Options vary by product. Consult your tax advisor regarding potential tax implications, as annuity death benefits are typically taxed as ordinary income.
When a trust is named beneficiary, the trustee submits the claim forms on behalf of the trust along with a certified copy of the death certificate, government-issued ID, the trust document title, appointment, and signature pages plus any amendments, and the Trust Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN). For annuity contracts where the trust elects the Beneficiary Continuation Option, a Trustee Certification Form is also required. Forms can be requested by calling (800) 777-6510 for life insurance or (800) 789-7771 for annuity contracts.
Life insurance claim forms: mail to Equitable, Life Operations, PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047 (express mail: 8501 IBM Drive, Suite 150, Charlotte, NC 28262). Annuity claim forms: mail to Equitable Retirement Service Solutions, PO Box 1016, Charlotte, NC 28201-1016 (express: 8501 IBM Dr., Suite 150-IR, Charlotte, NC 28262-4333). EQUI-VEST claim forms: mail to Equitable, EQUI-VEST, PO Box 4956 MD 32-88, Syracuse, NY 13221. Annuity benefit/pension claims: mail to Equitable, Benefit Payment Services Group, P.O. Box 4993, Syracuse, NY 13221 (express: 100 Madison St, Suite 1000, Syracuse, NY 13202).
Equitable's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-777-6510, email at EquivestDeathClaims@equitable.com, and fax at 1-855-268-6378 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Equitable policies may mean multiple claims. Some account types can be processed together, but others require their own documentation. Check with the Life Insurance Claims to confirm what applies.
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-777-6510
Toll-Free1-800-777-6510
Fax1-855-268-6378
Mailing Address
Equitable, Life Operations, PO Box 1047, Charlotte, NC 28201-1047
Annuity Claims
EQUI-VEST Claims
Death After Retirement/Group Pension
Employee Benefits Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Equitable accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
