Life insurance after a death – payout, deadlines and tax
Life insurance is often the fastest source of liquidity for survivors. With the right paperwork the payout usually arrives within a few weeks.
Notify the insurer – deadlines
Notify every life, accident and funeral insurer within 48–72 hours. Tight deadlines apply especially in the event of accidental death.
Documents
- Original death certificate
- Medical certificate of cause of death if requested
- Policy number
- Beneficiary ID
- IBAN for payout
Payout to the beneficiary
The payout goes directly to the named beneficiary. In Switzerland (art. 76 VVG) it stays outside the estate when paid to a spouse or descendant. In Germany it is subject to inheritance tax with the usual allowances. In Austria there is no inheritance tax.
Tax treatment
CH: often favourable, canton-specific. DE: subject to inheritance tax. AT: no inheritance tax. The Wegbegleiter App walks you through every notification.
Frequently asked questions
- How fast?
- 2–6 weeks after a complete file.
- Who is the beneficiary?
- The person named in the policy, not automatically the spouse.
- Tax?
- CH: often favourable. DE: inheritance tax. AT: none.
- Suicide?
- A contractual waiting period of 1–3 years usually applies.
Wegbegleiter – the app for difficult moments
The Wegbegleiter app (wegbegleiterapp.com) guides you step by step: checklists, letter templates and an encrypted emergency folder – free to start.