What to do when a Transamerica account holder dies
Contact Transamerica — 3-step process, 6 required documents, and varies by claim complexity and documentation completeness
Customer Service
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Customer Service
Legacy Customer Service
Web Assistance
Outside U.S. (Life)
IRAs
Retirement Plans
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Customer Service
Legacy Customer Service
Web Assistance
Outside U.S. (Life)
IRAs
Retirement Plans
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Claims
Outside U.S. (Life)
Outside U.S. (Annuity)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Filing a death claim on a Transamerica policy begins with notifying the Life Insurance Claims at 1-800-797-2643. 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.
Transamerica 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 Transamerica requires:
Filing a claim
1
Report the death to Transamerica
- Contact Transamerica to report the death
- For life insurance claims: call 1-800-797-2643 (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
- For annuity claims: call 1-800-525-6205 (Mon-Thu 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.)
- Or submit a First Report of Death online at myta.transamerica.com/public/death_claim.aspx
2
Provide initial information and receive claim forms
- Provide policy/contract number, insured name, SSN, date of birth, and date of death
- Transamerica will mail claim forms and requirements to the beneficiary
3
Complete and return claim documentation
- Beneficiary completes and returns the Claimant Statement form
- Include certified death certificate with the claim
- For trusts as beneficiary: provide Trustee Certification and trust documents
- Transamerica reviews documentation and processes the claim
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Government-issued ID for claimant/beneficiary
- Completed Claimant Statement form
- Policy/contract number
- Trustee Certification of Trust Document (if trust is beneficiary)
- Trust first page and signature page (if trust is beneficiary)
Life insurance customer service / claims: 1-800-797-2643 (Mon-Fri, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Annuity customer service / claims: 1-800-525-6205 (Mon-Thu 8 a.m. - 5:30 p.m., Fri 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.). Legacy customer service line 1-800-523-7900 also accepts general inquiries. When faxing documents, include the insured name and policy/certificate number. Claim forms can be filled out online, printed, and mailed to the address on the form. Beneficiary designations on policies override will provisions and avoid probate.
Expected timelines at Transamerica: Varies by claim complexity and documentation completeness. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Transamerica includes Certified death certificate, Government-issued ID for claimant/beneficiary, and Completed Claimant Statement form, along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Generally, annuities should not be retitled to a trust due to potential adverse tax consequences. The recommended approach is to name the trust as the Sole Primary Beneficiary on the annuity contract using the Annuity Policy Change Form. This allows the death benefit to pass directly to the trust outside of probate.
A per stirpes designation directs death benefits to the lineal descendants of the beneficiary if the beneficiary is not living at the time of claim. This prevents the need to update beneficiary designations after a beneficiary passes away.
Transamerica's Life Insurance Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-797-2643 and fax at 972-881-4527 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple Transamerica policies, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Life Insurance Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Customer Service
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Customer Service
Legacy Customer Service
Web Assistance
Outside U.S. (Life)
IRAs
Retirement Plans
WebsiteLearn more→
Customer Service
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Customer Service
Legacy Customer Service
Web Assistance
Outside U.S. (Life)
IRAs
Retirement Plans
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance Claims
Phone1-800-797-2643
Toll-Free1-800-797-2643
Fax972-881-4527
Mailing Address
Transamerica, PO Box 189, Cedar Rapids, IA 52406-0189
Annuity Claims
Outside U.S. (Life)
Outside U.S. (Annuity)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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