Anyone can initiate a life insurance claim, but this does not automatically entitle you to the payout. To be eligible for the death benefit, you must be named as a beneficiary in the policy. Typically, close family members, such as spouses, children, or parents, are designated as beneficiaries. If there are no family members and you are a close friend, you may be able to start the claim on their behalf.
To begin the claims process, you will need to identify the insurance company that holds the life insurance policy. Once you have this information, contact the insurer to inform them of the policyholder's death and initiate the claim.