What is the limitation period for life insurance contracts?

Disputes may arise during the life insurance contract. Where the parties involved in the dispute cannot reach an amicable agreement, they must take the matter to court.

Legal actions may be brought by the following persons:

• Subscriber (e.g. request for change of insured or beneficiary)
• Insured (e.g. change of beneficiary request)
• Beneficiary (e.g. claim for payment of savings following the death of the insured)
• Insurer (e.g. claim for payment of contributions)
• Third parties (e.g. the person named in the contract is challenged as a beneficiary)

Legal proceedings relating to a life insurance contract must be brought within a period of 2 years from the event that is the basis of the request.

For example, when the beneficiary asks the insurer to pay the premium, the event that is the basis of the request is the death of the insured. In this case, the two-year period shall begin from the date of death of the insured person.

After this time, called limitation period, the action will not be reviewed by the courts.

However, in the following 2 cases, the limitation period is longer :

• For an action linked to a life insurance contract where the beneficiary and the subscriber are two different persons, the period is 10 years from the death of the insured
• For an action initiated by the beneficiary, the period is 30 years from the death of the insured.