Insurance: If the nominee along with the policyholder dies in an accident, who will be entitled to the money?

Taking life insurance is a responsible step that protects your family from an uncertain future. While taking an insurance policy, most people make their wife, children, or parents as nominees. They intend that if something happens to them, the insurance claim money should go to their loved ones. But, sometimes such unfortunate incidents also happen in which the whole family becomes a victim of an accident together.

If such a situation arises that the nominee also dies along with the policyholder, then how can other family members claim the insurance money, and who will get the first right to claim? This question must have come to everyone's mind. Let us understand the answers to these questions in detail.

Who will be entitled in case of the death of both the policyholder and the nominee?

If in any case both the policyholder and the nominee die, then their other legal heirs can claim the insurance amount. Generally, legal heirs include close relatives of the policyholder, such as parents, husband, wife, son, or daughter. However, the list of legal heirs under the Hindu Succession Act is quite long. Apart from this, if the policyholder has made a will, then the people whose names are mentioned in it can also claim this insurance amount. In such a situation, the will will be given priority first.

Who are the legal heirs?

Under the Hindu Succession Act, the wife gets the first priority among the legal heirs of a man. After this, the number of sons and daughters comes, and then the number of mothers comes. If the son or daughter of the policyholder has died, then their children, i.e., grandchildren, can also claim this insurance amount. All these names come in 'Class 1'. At the same time, the heirs of 'Class 2' include the policyholder's father, siblings, nephews, nieces, grandparents, etc.

If there is no close relative...
Suppose the policyholder does not have anyone in 'Category 1' and 'Category 2', then their father's relatives, such as cousins, ​​can make a claim. In case of their absence too, relatives from the mother's side can claim this insurance amount. If none of these legal heirs are found, then the insurance amount goes to the government.

If the policy is bought by a woman, then...

In the case of a female policyholder, the first right is of the husband, sons, and daughters. If these are also not there, then the husband's parents and siblings can make a claim. In their absence, the woman's parents and then their relatives come next. In this case, too, if the insured woman has made a will, then it will be considered first.

What documents are required for the claim?

You will need some important documents for the insurance claim process:

Death Certificates: Death certificates of both the policyholder and the nominee will have to be given.

Policy Document: The original insurance policy or a certified copy of the same should be there.
Legal Heir Certificate: This can be obtained from the local Tehsildar or Revenue Officer.
Will: If the insured has left a will, a certified copy of the will have to be provided.
Succession Certificate: If the sum insured is high and there is a possibility of dispute, then this may have to be obtained from the court.
ID and Address Proof: This includes the claimant's Aadhaar card, PAN card and other KYC documents.