Legal & General Bereavement: Life Cover, Annuities and Pensions

Legal & General uses different teams for life cover and for annuities and retirement income, so the number depends on the product. Have the policy number and the death certificate ready.¹²

Which Legal & General number to call

Legal & General's life cover page gives its hours as Monday to Friday, 9am to 5.30pm.¹ Life claims can also be started online: joint policies through My Account, single-life policies through the claims portal.¹ The online annuities form is for annuity customers only; pension savings plans are reported through Contact Us instead.²

Legal & General was not on the Death Notification Service's member list on 19 October 2026, so tell it directly.³

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What to have ready

For a life claim, Legal & General asks for:¹

• the policy number (or the Direct Debit reference)
• the full name of the person who died
• a copy of the death certificate (it sometimes needs the original)
• the date, place and cause of death
• your name and relationship to them, and the legal next of kin

For an annuity with a spouse's benefit, it lists the death certificate, proof of identity, proof of relationship (marriage or civil partnership certificate), bank details and the policy reference, and may ask for more.²

Does it go through probate?

• Policy in trust: Legal & General says trustees can usually claim the proceeds without waiting for probate.¹ The money goes to the trust's beneficiaries and is not part of the estate.
• Policy not in trust: the payout usually goes to the estate, so the insurer may need to see the grant. See life insurance and probate.
• Annuities: Legal & General aims to complete the process within 15 working days, but says it may take longer if documents are missing or probate is required. It also notes that providing documents does not mean the policy is payable.²

Common questions

What is the Legal & General bereavement number?

It depends on the product. Life insurance claims: 0800 137 101. Over 50s plans: 0800 009 3506. Annuities and retirement income: 0345 026 3858, Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm.

Does a Legal & General life policy need probate?

Not if it was written in trust: Legal & General says trustees can usually claim without waiting for probate. A policy not in trust usually pays the estate, so the grant may be needed.

How long does Legal & General take after a death?

For annuities, Legal & General aims to complete the process within 15 working days, but it can take longer if documents are missing or probate is required.

What information does Legal & General need for a death claim?

The policy number or Direct Debit reference, the full name of the person who died, a copy of the death certificate, the date, place and cause of death, and your name, relationship and the legal next of kin.

Every phone number, address, limit and document list on this page was read on legalandgeneral.com on 19 October 2026. Where Legal & General does not publish something, we say so rather than guess: ask its bereavement team.