beneficiary change after insured is deceased

[Hawk9026]

How can the beneficiary be changed or challenged on a life insurance policy after the insured is deceased?
My brother intended to make me the beneficiary, requested the forms from his employer, but passed away before he could sign them.
What recourse do I have?
I live in Indiana.

 

[ALawyer]

Sorry, but if he did not sign the change of beneficiary forms, you're out of luck as a matter of law. It's not the claimed intent -- if he did not get around to doing it, regardless of the reason, what counts is doing the act.

If the group policy provided that change of beneficiary forms received prior to the insuer's making payment are valid, you'd likely be ok if he signed them, even if thery had not been filed, but group policy language varies, and some plans require that it be filed before the death..

All you can do is try to persuade the person he had named as beneficiary that you should receive some or all of the benefits.