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What to do when a Shelter Insurance account holder dies

Report the death to Shelter Insurance's Claims at 1-800-743-5837

Filing a death claim on a Shelter Insurance policy begins with notifying the Claims at 1-800-743-5837. Life insurance claims are separate from probate—proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries regardless of whether the estate goes through court. The timeline and documentation requirements depend on the policy type and cause of death.

Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Shelter Insurance.

Death claim process

To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Shelter Insurance requires:

Filing a claim

1
Call 1-800-743-5837 to file the life policy claim. Claims can be reported 24 hours a day.
2
Send claims-related mail to Shelter Insurance-Claims, P.O. Box 6008, Columbia, MO 65205, or email documents to claimsdocuments@shelterinsurance.com with the claim number in the subject line.

Required Documents

  • Death certificate
  • Claim number, with any emailed documentsPut it in the subject line of the email.

What Shelter Insurance's agreement and guidance say1

How proceeds are paid

Shelter states that the death benefit of a permanent life policy "can be paid out in a lump sum or in any one of a number of settlement options."1

Not in Shelter Insurance's published guidance2

  • A claim form
  • Whether the death certificate must be certified

Sources1

Download instructions for the whole estate

Shelter Insurance's Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-743-5837 and email at claimsdocuments@shelterinsurance.com for questions throughout the claims process.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·

Sources

Data sourced from Shelter Insurance primary sources (17 pages reviewed). How we research.

Shelter Insurance death claims support

Claims

Hours

24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Mailing address

Shelter Insurance-Claims, P.O. Box 6008, Columbia, MO 65205
Verified Sep 2026

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