What to do when a Principal account holder dies
Contact Principal — 9-step process, 9 required documents, and claims are generally processed within 5 working days once all required information is received. group life claims under $50,000 may be processed via express claims within 5 working days. additional processing time may be required if documentation is incomplete or further investigation is needed.
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address
Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001
Individual Life/Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans
Annuities (Servicing)
Group Benefits/Disability
Group Insurance
Mutual Funds
Principal Bank
Spanish Language Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address
Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001
Individual Life/Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans
Annuities (Servicing)
Group Benefits/Disability
Group Insurance
Mutual Funds
Principal Bank
Spanish Language Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-331-2213
Fax1-866-894-2096
Mailing Address
Principal Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 10357, Des Moines, IA 50306-0357
Individual Life Claims Questions
Group Life Claims
Individual Life Policy Service
Group Claims Email
Group Claims Fax
Grief Support (Empathy)
Grief Support (Alternate)
Verified May 2026
A death claim on a Principal policy is filed through the Life Insurance Claims (1-800-331-2213). Because insurance proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries, this process is separate from probate. The required documentation and timeline vary by policy type.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Principal. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
Follow these steps to file a death claim with Principal:
Filing a claim
1
Locate the Principal policy or account documents and note the policy/account number
2
Obtain certified copies of the death certificate (original with raised seal or special coloring; photocopies are not accepted)
3
Initiate the claim for your product type:
- Individual life insurance: complete and submit the Individual Life Insurance Claim form via AdobeSign (electronic) at forms.insurance.claims.principal.com, or download the PDF by clicking "Options" then "Download PDF"
- Group life insurance: the employer submits the online life insurance claim form, or the beneficiary submits the employee/beneficiary online claim form and uploads the death certificate
- Retirement accounts: contact Principal at 800-547-7754 to initiate the death claim process
- Annuities: contact Principal at 800-852-4450 to report the death and begin the claim process
4
Provide the deceased's name, date of death, and policy/account information
5
Submit a certified death certificate with the claim
6
Provide additional documentation based on beneficiary type:
- If the estate is the beneficiary: provide Letters Testamentary (with will) or Letters of Administration (no will)
- If a trust is the beneficiary: the trustee completes the claim form and provides a copy of the trust naming the trustee or completes Principal's Trustee Certification and Release Form
- If a minor is the beneficiary: provide court-appointed guardianship order or designate a custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minor Act (UTMA)
7
For survivorship policies: submit notification and a certified death certificate upon the first death of an insured
8
Select payout method and set up direct deposit or electronic funds transfer for faster payment
9
Submit claim documents:
- Individual life insurance: mail to Principal Financial Group, P.O. Box 9394, Des Moines, IA 50306-9394; or email to IndClaims@exchange.principal.com; or fax to 866-894-2096
- Group life insurance: mail to Principal Life Insurance Company, PO Box 10357, Des Moines, IA 50306-0357; or email to SBDClaims@principal.com; or fax to 800-255-6609
- For overnight delivery: 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-1770
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate (original with raised seal or special coloring; no photocopies)
- Government-issued ID for the beneficiary
- Completed claim form (product-specific)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if estate is the beneficiary)
- Court-appointed guardianship order (if minor is the beneficiary)
- Trust documents or Trustee Certification and Release Form (if trust is the beneficiary)
- Surviving Children's Affidavit (Form DD433, if beneficiary designation is simply "children")
- Proof of death for any predeceased beneficiary
- Funeral home assignment form (if requesting funeral home assignment of proceeds)
Claims Contact
Individual life insurance claims can be filed electronically via AdobeSign at forms.insurance.claims.principal.com or by downloading the PDF and submitting by email (IndClaims@exchange.principal.com) or fax (866-894-2096). Group life insurance claims: employer or family member can report a death at 800-245-1522; paper claims can be emailed to SBDClaims@principal.com or faxed to 800-255-6609. Group life benefits are issued as a lump-sum check. Individual life insurance benefits are issued as either a lump-sum check or electronic funds transfer. Beneficiaries may request funeral home assignment with proper documentation. Principal offers complimentary grief and financial planning support through Empathy (720-408-7491). A personal representative is assigned to each filed claim. Overnight mail for claims: 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-1770.
How long the process takes at Principal: Claims are generally processed within 5 working days once all required information is received. Group life claims under $50,000 may be processed via express claims within 5 working days. Additional processing time may be required if documentation is incomplete or further investigation is needed. 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 Principal includes Certified death certificate (original with raised seal or special coloring; no photocopies), Government-issued ID for the beneficiary, and Completed claim form (product-specific), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
An ILIT is a trust that owns a life insurance policy, removing the death benefit from the grantor's taxable estate and protecting assets from creditors. Principal supports ILITs through Principal Trust Company (a trade name of Delaware Charter Guarantee & Trust Company, chartered in 1899), which provides ILIT administration services for policies funded with Principal life insurance products. Delaware trust law offers advantages including maximum privacy, asset protection, and perpetual trust duration regardless of where you live. To transfer ownership of an existing policy to an ILIT, complete the Change of Ownership form (DD425). Principal does not establish ILITs; you must work with an estate attorney to create one. The three-year lookback rule under IRC Section 2035 applies if transferring an existing policy into an ILIT. Principal also offers private split dollar arrangements and charitable trust strategies that integrate with life insurance.
For individual life insurance: complete and submit the Individual Life Insurance Claim form via AdobeSign (electronic signature) at forms.insurance.claims.principal.com, or download the PDF and submit by email to IndClaims@exchange.principal.com or fax to 866-894-2096. You can also call 800-247-9988 for assistance. For group life insurance: the employer can submit the online claim form, or the beneficiary can submit the employee/beneficiary online form and upload the death certificate. Group claims can also be reported by phone at 800-245-1522, or paper claims emailed to SBDClaims@principal.com or faxed to 800-255-6609. A personal representative is assigned to each filed claim.
If there is no named beneficiary or all beneficiaries are deceased, the policy or plan document provides guidance on whom proceeds should be paid to. For retirement accounts, funds typically pass to the surviving spouse (for married individuals) or to the estate (for single individuals). If the estate is the beneficiary, court documents of appointment (Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration) must be provided before proceeds can be issued. Estate distribution can be lengthy and expensive. Principal recommends designating both primary and contingent beneficiaries to avoid this situation.
Principal's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-331-2213, email at IndClaims@exchange.principal.com, and fax at 1-866-894-2096 for questions throughout the claims process.
Multiple Principal 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.
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address
Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001
Individual Life/Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans
Annuities (Servicing)
Group Benefits/Disability
Group Insurance
Mutual Funds
Principal Bank
Spanish Language Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-986-3343
Mailing Address
Principal Financial Group, 711 High Street, Des Moines, IA 50392-0001
Individual Life/Disability Insurance
Retirement Plans
Annuities (Servicing)
Group Benefits/Disability
Group Insurance
Mutual Funds
Principal Bank
Spanish Language Support
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-331-2213
Fax1-866-894-2096
Mailing Address
Principal Life Insurance Company, P.O. Box 10357, Des Moines, IA 50306-0357
Individual Life Claims Questions
Group Life Claims
Individual Life Policy Service
Group Claims Email
Group Claims Fax
Grief Support (Empathy)
Grief Support (Alternate)
Verified May 2026
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