Your husband said there was a life insurance policy. Now you can't find it! The claim is delayed, or a denial letter just arrived! What now?

In this episode, we sit down with Stephanie Prestridge, attorney and founder of Life Claim, a law practice focused exclusively on life insurance disputes. After nearly two decades in estate planning, Stephanie knows where grieving families get blindsided: lost policies, missed premiums, the two-year contestability period, and the sympathetic phone call from a claims adjuster that may not be what it seems. Grab a pen and paper and take notes!

Timestamps

• 00:00 – Meet Stephanie Prestridge and why this topic matters
• 01:52 – How to have the hard conversations before it's too late
• 08:45 – Where to look when you suspect a policy exists
• 10:26 – The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, and why it's slow
• 12:27 – Do insurers have to find you? (The lawyer answer: it depends)
• 19:09 – Top reasons claims get denied, and the missed-premium trap
• 23:04 – The two-year contestability period explained
• 27:19 – What's happening when your claim is delayed
• 32:57 – Employer policies and ERISA: why you only get one appeal
• 37:28 – First steps after a denial, and why DIY appeals backfire
• 41:02 – The one thing Stephanie wishes every widow knew
• 43:14 – Leaving a legacy conversation, not a guessing game
• 46:15 – How to reach Life Claim

"Banking on your grief is an industry standard, and it should not be one." ~Stephie Prestridge

Five Key Takeaways

1. Have the conversation now. A spouse who refuses to talk about finances isn't protecting you. If they won't talk, have them write down what you need to know and tell you where it's stored.
2. Be careful what you tell the claims examiner. Their friendly questions can become grounds to investigate or deny. Keep it short: confirm the death, ask what forms are needed, and request everything in writing.
3. Watch the contestability period. If the insured dies within two years of the policy being issued or reinstated, the insurer can audit the application and medical records. Even an honest mistake can sink a claim.
4. Employer policies follow ERISA. You get one chance to appeal correctly and can't add evidence later, so get counsel immediately after a denial.
5. Prevent problems before they happen. Name a second person to receive missed-premium notices, review beneficiary designations every five years, and remember that life insurance bypasses your will.

Reach Stephie at www.lifeclaim.com

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