What to do when a Pacific Life account holder dies
Report the death to Pacific Life's Life Insurance Division at 1-800-347-7787
A death claim on a Pacific Life policy is filed through the Life Insurance Division (1-800-347-7787). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Pacific Life requires:
Filing a claim
- Individual life insurance: call (800) 347-7787, or initiate a claim online and choose "Death" as the claim type
- Life insurance with a policy number beginning "2L" (Lynchburg Operations): call (844) 276-0193
- Group life through an employer (Workforce Benefits): call (855) 810-3301, or report it in the Workforce Benefits portal
- Fixed and variable annuities: call (800) 722-4448, or (800) 748-6907 for New York contracts
- Life insurance: (800) 347-7787, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time
- Life Insurance - Lynchburg Operations (policy number prefix "2L"): (844) 276-0193, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time
- Workforce Benefits (members and insureds): (855) 810-3301, 5 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time
- Fixed and variable annuities (contract owners): (800) 722-4448, 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pacific Time
- Fixed and variable annuities for New York: (800) 748-6907
Required Documents
- Beneficiary Claim Statement, for Workforce Benefits group lifeEach beneficiary completes a separate statement.
- Group Life Insurance - Accidental Death Claim Statement, for group life, if the cause of death involved an accidentCompleted by one beneficiary; one statement per death.
- Authorization for the Use and/or Disclosure of Information, for group lifeThe form says that not signing it may leave Pacific Life & Annuity Company unable to approve and pay the claim.
- Employer/Group Policyholder Statement, for group lifeCompleted by the employer.
- Beneficiary designation form, for group life, when the employee has diedThe employer statement says the most current beneficiary designation form must be submitted with the claim.
- Death certificate with cause and manner of death, for group lifeThe package says "A copy of the certificate is typically acceptable," and asks whether it is included or has been provided by another party.
- Estate documents filed with the court naming an executor or administrator, for group life, if the estate is the beneficiaryA copy.
- Trust documentation, for group life, if a trust is the beneficiaryA copy.
- UTMA affidavit or guardianship over the minor's financial estate, for group life, if a minor child is the beneficiary
- Trust Certification for In-Force Policies (15-47910), for individual life, if a trust is the beneficiarySigned by all current trustees.
- Court certified guardianship letters, for individual life, if a minor beneficiary has no custodian named under UTMA or UGMAOver the estate of the minor beneficiary.
- Funeral home assignment form, for group life, if there is a funeral home assignmentThe form provided by the funeral home.
- Autopsy, toxicology or investigative reports, for a group life accidental death claim, if one was completedA copy, or contact information for the coroner, medical examiner or organization that has the report.
- Form W-8BEN, for group life, if the beneficiary is a non-resident alien
Forms Pacific Life issues3
- Life Claims Beneficiary Claim Statements Package (WB-44)
Completed by each beneficiary. Available to download.1
- Trust Certification for In-Force Policies (15-47910)
Completed by all current trustees. Available to download.2
- Post-Death Nonqualified Exchange Disclosure & Distribution Request (13289)
Available to download.3
Accounts handled elsewhere4
- Life Insurance - Lynchburg Operations
Life insurance policies with a policy number that begins with "2L"4
Phone: 1-844-276-0193
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00 AM-5:00 PM PT
Mailing address: Pacific Life Insurance Company - Lynchburg Operations, PO Box 2873, Omaha, NE 68103-2873
- Pacific Life & Annuity Company, Workforce Benefits - Claims
Group life insurance offered through employers1
Phone: 1-855-810-3301
Email: claims.workforcebenefits@pacificlife.com
Fax: 1-949-219-8872
Hours: 08:00-20:00 ET
Mailing address: Pacific Life & Annuity Company, Attn: Workforce Benefits - Claims, PO Box 2387, Omaha, NE 68103-2387
- Fixed and Variable Annuities (Contract Owners)
Pacific Life fixed and variable annuity contracts4
Phone: 1-800-722-4448
Hours: Monday-Friday 6:00 AM-5:00 PM PT
Mailing address: P.O. Box 2378, Omaha, NE 68103-2378
- Fixed and Variable Annuities for New York (Pacific Life & Annuity)
New York annuity contracts, issued by Pacific Life & Annuity Company4
Phone: 1-800-748-6907
Mailing address: Pacific Life & Annuity Company (Consumer Markets), P.O. Box 2829, Omaha, NE 68103-2829
What Pacific Life's agreement and guidance say3
- How proceeds are paid
Group life benefit payments are made by check, mailed to the address the beneficiary gives in Section 2 of the Beneficiary Claim Statement.1
- Payment to a minor or incapacitated beneficiary
On an individual life policy, Pacific Life Insurance Company holds the death benefit for a minor beneficiary until it receives court certified guardianship letters over the minor's estate, then pays the guardian. A custodian named under UTMA or UGMA can collect it for the minor.2
- Who can get account information
A group life claimant can name a person or company to speak with Pacific Life on their behalf on the Authorization for Release of Claim Information.5
Not in Pacific Life's published guidance3
- How long a claim takes
- Individual life claim package
- Individual life death certificate standard
Pacific Life's Life Insurance Division can be reached by phone at 1-800-347-7787, email at claimsnotificationinbox@pacificlife.com, and fax at 1-866-398-0467 for questions throughout the claims process.
Sources
Data sourced from Pacific Life primary sources (27 pages reviewed). How we research.
Pacific Life death claims support
Life Insurance Division
Phone
Life Insurance - Lynchburg Operations
Workforce Benefits (members/insureds)
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
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