• Choose a company with a good reputation and past history.
• Choose a company that offers the product and features that meet your needs
• Find out what state the insurance company is licensed. Be sure to know the full name, home office location and affiliation of any company you are considering.
• Choose a company that is likely to be financially sound for many years, by using ratings from independent rating agencies.
• Choose a life insurance company that will communicate with you and who is attentive to your needs.
• Check the national database to see what complaint information it has on the insurance company.The state insurance department will be able to tell you if there has been many consumer complaints about its service relative to the number of policies it sold.
• The premium and cost of your insurance contract is important so you should compare similar insurance plans based on: Your age, the type of policy, the policy features and the amount of insurance you are purchasing

Visit the State Department of Insurance web site to get the information you need about any insurance company.

The beneficiary should get a claim form from the insurance company. The insurance company will need, the name of the insured, a policy number and a certified copy of the death.

The beneficiary will have choice of ways to receive a death benefit. Settlement options could include the following:

• A lump sum payment
• An installment payment usually with interest
• A checking account where the beneficiary receives a check book and can withdraw money when need
• The insurance company could hold the benefits and pay interest

You generally do not have to pay income tax on death benefits.

Get advice from your lawyer or account on this matter.