Competing beneficiary claims to life insurance proceeds
Resolving a dispute between claimants, such as an ex-spouse, a spouse and the estate.
What is included
- Reviews the policy or group benefits booklet and the denial letter
- Requests your claim file and the insurer's medical reviews
- Helps gather medical, employment and other supporting evidence
- Handles appeals and negotiations with the insurer
- Starts a court action where appropriate
What is not included
- Court filing fees, reports and other disbursements
- Appeals or later stages beyond the scope in the lawyer's written retainer
- Claims against other people or companies unless added to the retainer
- Fees of appraisers, adjusters, contractors or engineers you hire
Who this service is for
- People denied short-term, long-term or individual disability benefits
- Beneficiaries of a denied life, accidental death or critical illness claim
- Employees denied group health or dental benefits
- Travellers whose medical or trip claim was refused
Information to have ready
- 1The policy, certificate or group benefits booklet
- 2The denial letter and any appeal decisions
- 3Medical records and doctors' notes
- 4Employment details such as your job description, for disability claims
- 5The beneficiary designation and death certificate, for life claims
How a referral works
- 1Tell us in a few words what the matter is about, and who else is involved, so we can check for a conflict of interest.
- 2We recommend an Ontario lawyer for your matter, and at least one other you could choose instead.
- 3The lawyer runs their own conflict check, confirms the scope and quotes the fee, normally in a written retainer agreement.
- 4You pay the lawyer's fee to the lawyer. Any referral fee comes out of it, is disclosed to you in writing, and never increases what you pay.
NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm, not a law firm. Every step of a referral, and your rights
Frequently asked questions
What does the lawyer charge?
Lawyers usually charge $350–$700/hr for this kind of work, by the hour. The lawyer quotes the actual rate and an estimate. You pay the lawyer directly; the referral itself costs you nothing.
Should I use the insurer's internal appeal first?
Sometimes it helps and sometimes it only adds time. An internal appeal may not stop the limitation period, so speak to a lawyer before relying on one.
My claim was denied because of something on my application. What now?
Insurers sometimes deny claims or cancel coverage for misrepresentation. Whether they can depends on the policy, the questions asked, the answers given and when; the lawyer can review the application and the insurer's reasons.
Is there a deadline to sue?
Yes. Limitation periods apply and may start running from the denial or earlier. Contact a lawyer promptly, because a referral does not stop the clock.
General information only, not legal advice. NEO Legal Services Professional Corporation is a licensed paralegal firm regulated by the Law Society of Ontario.
Important limitations
- No outcome can be guaranteed
- Limitation periods keep running during a referral, so act promptly
- The lawyer confirms the scope, fee and steps in a written retainer before starting
PIPEDA-compliant⚖️ By-Law 9 trust accounting checks🛡️ Professional liability insured✅ LSO-licensed paralegal🔐 256-bit AES Encryption📋 Working toward WCAG 2.1 AA🇨🇦 Ontario-based firm🕒 SOC 2-audited hosting providers📄 CASL Compliant💻 Secure Client Portal📊 Transparent Fixed Fees🔍 Verified Google Reviews🤝 Free Initial Consultation🏛️ Law Society of Ontario📜 Professional Corporation🔏 Confidential by professional duty🌐 Province-Wide Service💬 Court interpreters in most languages⏱️ Same-Day Intake Response🗂️ Paperless Document Vault🔄 Real-Time Case Tracking🎓 Honours paralegal graduate · LLB in progress📱 Mobile-friendly client portal🧾 Upfront, written fees🔗 TLS 1.3 Secure Connections🛂 ID checks at sign-up (By-Law 7.1)🧑⚖️ Paralegal Scope of Practice📆 Flexible Appointment Booking💼 Small Business Friendly
