interpleader.com
Guides

Basics

What can be interpleaded

If you are involved

Beneficiary disputes

Law and sources

Talk to an attorney

If you are involved

How Long Does an Interpleader Case Take?

There is no fixed timetable. An uncontested case can end within months, while a contested one can run well past a year, and longer if a criminal case, probate or an appeal is involved. This guide walks through each stage, the factors that slow a case down, and real federal dockets that show the range.

By

On this page
  1. The short answer
  2. The stages of a case
  3. Waiting on the court
  4. What makes a case take longer
  5. Docket illustrations
  6. Practical guidance for claimants
  7. Related guides

People caught in an interpleader usually want to know one thing first: when will the money be paid? The honest answer is that it depends on whether anyone contests the claim, how easy the claimants are to find and serve, and how busy the court is.

The short answer

As a rule of thumb, a contested interpleader that is decided on summary judgment often takes around 18 months from filing to a ruling, and an appeal can add roughly another year. Treat that as a description of a typical contested case, not a promise. Some contested cases move faster, and some take much longer because a motion sits undecided or a related case has to finish first.

Cases that nobody really contests are usually faster. When the other claimants default, disclaim or agree, the dockets below show cases that ended in roughly six to nine months. Even then, a default case can take a year or more if service is slow or the court takes time to rule.

What the national statistics show

The federal courts publish median times for civil cases. In the 12 months ending September 30, 2025, the median time from filing to disposition for all civil cases in the U.S. district courts was 15.6 months. Cases closed with no court action had a median of 5.1 months, and cases that reached trial had a median of 30.7 months. The medians vary widely by district; for example, 5.6 months in the Southern District of New York and 33.0 months in the District of New Hampshire.1 These figures cover every kind of civil case, not interpleaders specifically, so they show the general pace of a court rather than a forecast for any one case.

For appeals, the median time from the notice of appeal to the final decision in cases decided on the merits was 9.9 months across the regional courts of appeals in the same period, ranging from 4.6 months in the Eighth Circuit to 15.3 months in the Second Circuit.2 These figures cover all kinds of appeals.

The stages of a case

StageWhat happensKey rules and timing
Before filingThe insurer or plan reviews the claims, sometimes asks the claimants to settle, and decides to interplead.No court deadline. This stage can take weeks or many months. See before an interpleader.
Filing and serviceThe stakeholder files a complaint naming each claimant and serves them.Service within 90 days after filing unless the court extends it (Rule 4(m)). In statutory interpleader, process can be served nationwide (28 U.S.C. § 2361).
AnswersEach claimant files an answer stating its claim.Generally 21 days after service, or 60 days if service was waived (Rule 12(a)(1)(A)).
Deposit and dischargeThe money goes into the court's registry and the stakeholder asks to be released.Statutory interpleader requires a deposit or bond (§ 1335(a)(2)); Rule 67 governs deposits; funds are held under 28 U.S.C. § 2041. Discharge can come early or at the end. See discharge, fees and interest.
DefaultsA claimant who does not answer can be defaulted and lose its claim.The clerk enters default; a default judgment then usually requires a motion and court order (Rule 55).
Scheduling and discoveryIf claims are contested, the court sets deadlines for discovery and motions.The scheduling order is due within 90 days after any defendant is served or 60 days after any defendant appears, whichever is earlier, unless the judge finds good cause for delay (Rule 16(b)(2)).
Summary judgment or trialThe court decides who is entitled to the money, usually on written motions.Rule 56. The court sets briefing deadlines, but there is no deadline for the ruling itself.
Settlement and disbursementClaimants may settle; the court enters judgment and orders the clerk to pay.Registry funds are paid out only on a court order (28 U.S.C. § 2042). Interest earned in the registry is paid with the fund, less a registry fee.
Fee motionsThe stakeholder, and sometimes a claimant, asks for attorney's fees.Generally within 14 days after judgment unless a statute or order says otherwise (Rule 54(d)(2)(B)). See attorney's fees.
AppealA losing claimant may appeal.Notice of appeal generally within 30 days after judgment, or 60 days if the United States is a party (Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)).

Sources for the table: Filing and service34; Answers5; Deposit and discharge6; Defaults7; Scheduling and discovery8; Settlement and disbursement9; Fee motions10; Appeal11.

A few practical points about these stages:

  • Before filing. The time between the death and the lawsuit is often the longest unexplained gap. In one Maryland case the insurer received the claim in June 2020, contacted the police investigator between August 2020 and October 2021, and filed in October 2021.12 In an extreme Colorado case, an insurer citing an open police investigation filed more than 16 years after the death; see before an interpleader.
  • Service. Statutory interpleader lets the stakeholder serve claimants anywhere in the United States, but a claimant who cannot be found still has to be served in a way the court accepts, which can take months.
  • Deposit and discharge. Courts often release the stakeholder early, once the money is deposited, so the claimants litigate only against each other. Some do it at the end. See how discharge works.
  • Disbursement. Even after a ruling, payment requires an order to the clerk and processing by the clerk’s office. Interest earned while the money was in the registry is paid out with the fund, less the registry fee. See interest after deposit.

Waiting on the court

The range is wide partly because a motion has no deadline for a ruling. A motion for summary judgment, or even an unopposed motion for default judgment, can sit for many months, sometimes more than a year, before the court rules. How long depends on the judge, the district’s caseload and the court’s other priorities, such as criminal cases.

Examples from the dockets below:

  • Los Angeles. In Primerica v. Hood, the remaining claimants settled. On May 23, 2022, one of them applied for a default judgment against a party that had never appeared, and both filed a joint motion to disburse the fund under their settlement. No one opposed either request. On June 24, 2022, the court vacated the hearing and decided the motions without oral argument. It granted them on August 23, 2023, about fourteen months later, and entered an amended order directing payment on September 14, 2023.13 The insurer had deposited the money and been dismissed more than two years earlier.
  • New York. Both claimants moved for summary judgment on March 6, 2023, and the last reply was filed on March 16, 2023. The court ruled on February 27, 2024, about eleven and a half months after briefing closed.14
  • Maryland. One claimant moved for summary judgment on November 22, 2022, and the reply was filed on January 9, 2023. The court denied the motion on August 3, 2023, nearly seven months later, and referred the case to mediation.12
  • Louisiana. A claimant filed an unopposed motion for judgment on June 27, 2014. The court granted it on January 21, 2015, almost seven months later and about eighteen months after the case was filed.15

When a motion has been pending for a long time, parties sometimes file a notice or ask for a status conference to bring it to the court’s attention.

Congress created one public tool for tracking this kind of delay. Under the Civil Justice Reform Act, the Director of the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts must prepare a semiannual public report showing, for each judicial officer, the number of motions pending for more than six months, bench trials under submission for more than six months, and cases not terminated within three years after filing, with the case names.16 The reports are posted on the U.S. Courts website. They show a judge’s backlog, not a reason for any particular delay.

What makes a case take longer

  • Claimants who are hard to find. If a claimant cannot be located, the stakeholder may need court permission for alternative service, such as service by publication where the governing law allows it, and then has to wait out the response period before seeking a default.
  • Minors and incapacitated claimants. A minor or incompetent person without a representative needs a next friend or guardian ad litem, and the court must appoint a guardian ad litem or make another appropriate order for one who is unrepresented (Rule 17(c)(2)).17 A settlement involving a minor usually needs court approval, which adds a step. See guardian ad litem.
  • A parallel criminal case. When a beneficiary is a suspect in the death, courts often pause the civil case while the criminal case proceeds. Some statutes set the timetable: under Iowa’s slayer statute, the civil case cannot go to trial until the criminal case is finally determined, or six months after the death if no charge is brought. Others do not wait as long; in a Kansas case, a pending criminal appeal did not delay an award to the contingent beneficiary. See the slayer rule.
  • Probate or estate administration. If the estate is a claimant, someone has to be appointed to act for it, and some questions may have to be answered in a probate or chancery court first.
  • Removal and remand. A case filed in state court can be removed to federal court within 30 days after service in most cases (28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1)), and disputes over removal or jurisdiction add motion practice.18 See when a claimant sues first.
  • ERISA issues. Disputes about plan terms, plan claims procedures or money already paid out can add issues and briefing. See ERISA post-distribution claims.
  • Agreement among claimants. The biggest accelerator is agreement. When claimants settle, the court can often enter a consent judgment and order payment without discovery or summary judgment.

Docket illustrations

These are illustrations from cases already summarized on this site, not a statistical sample. Each date comes from the court’s order or the public docket cited in the notes. Parties are described by role.

Faster cases: default, agreement or quick motions

CaseKey datesFiling to outcome
Modern Woodmen v. Harris (N.D. Ala.)Filed Feb. 12, 2026; deposit order Feb. 19, 2026; deposit Mar. 2, 2026; reassigned to a district judge Apr. 29, 2026; opinion and final judgment Aug. 20, 2026; disbursement order Sept. 1, 2026.About 189 days (about 6 months) from complaint to judgment
Protective Life v. Tello (C.D. Cal.)Filed Oct. 27, 2025; one claimant served Jan. 18, 2026; his default entered Mar. 11, 2026; stipulated deposit and discharge order May 12, 2026; summary judgment June 17, 2026; default judgment and order to pay from the registry July 1, 2026.About 8 months
Thrivent v. Bressler (D. Ariz.)Filed June 27, 2016; deposit order Oct. 24, 2016 (amended Nov. 29, 2016); deposit Dec. 8, 2016; partial summary judgment and judgment Mar. 16, 2017.About 8½ months
Prudential v. West (N.D. Ohio)Death May 24, 2019; filed in early January 2020; order for relief in interpleader July 14, 2020; deposit on or about July 24, 2020; claimants settled; final judgment and disbursement order Feb. 26, 2021. (Final judgment.)About 6 months to the insurer's discharge; about 13½ months to final judgment
Jones v. MetLife (E.D. La.)Claimant's state-court suit July 2024; removed Aug. 8, 2024; interpleader claims on or about Sept. 5, 2024; deposit allowed Sept. 27, 2024; ERISA case management order Dec. 3, 2024, vacated Dec. 13, 2024; dismissal order Jan. 7, 2025; final judgment filed Jan. 13, 2025.About 5 months from removal
MetLife v. Evans (S.D. Tex.)Death Aug. 30, 2023; filed Sept. 3, 2024; deposit allowed Dec. 18, 2024; insurer discharged Dec. 20, 2024; claimants settled; final judgment and disbursement order Jan. 30, 2025.About 12 months from death to filing; about 5 months from filing to judgment
MetLife v. Lawless (D.N.J.)Death Mar. 5, 2019; filed June 13, 2019; stay denied Nov. 15, 2019; consent order of interpleader relief filed Dec. 5, 2019; deposit Jan. 6, 2020; claimants settled; minors' settlement approved and final judgment Apr. 27, 2020.About 10½ months
Penn Mutual v. Estate of Smith (E.D. Cal.)Death March 2018; no claim made at the time; filed May 10, 2023, about 5 years 2 months after the death; stipulated interpleader relief and discharge Sept. 8, 2023; deposit on or about Sept. 28, 2023; claimants settled; final judgment Nov. 30, 2023.About 6½ months
Nationwide v. Dunshie (D. Or.)Filed July 8, 2022; deposit order Mar. 3, 2023; findings and recommendation on discharge Apr. 21, 2023; adopted, and insurer dismissed, May 24, 2023; claimants settled; final judgment July 24, 2023.About 8 months to the deposit order, 12½ to judgment
Everlake v. Taylor (W.D. Okla.)Death June 7, 2024; filed Mar. 28, 2025; answer for the minor children Apr. 21, 2025; case converted to Rule 22, deposit ordered and the other claimant's default entered June 2, 2025; deposit received June 6, 2025; default judgment and insurer's discharge July 8, 2025; hearing on how the children's share would be held July 30, 2025; final judgment Aug. 18, 2025.About 9½ months from death to filing; about 4.7 months from filing to judgment
Transamerica v. Lyphout (N.D. Ind.)Owner's death Dec. 23, 2024; filed, with a motion to deposit, May 20, 2025; court required proof of Rule 67 notice to every party July 23, 2025; deposit Nov. 19, 2025; agreed final judgment Dec. 10, 2025.About 6 months from the deposit motion to the deposit; under 7 to judgment
Prudential v. Vagotis (D. Ariz.)Filed 2017; interpleader relief and discharge Oct. 12, 2017; consent judgment entered Nov. 13, 2017.About a month from discharge to the claimants' consent judgment
Aetna v. Vacknitz (S.D. Tex.)Filed 2019; interpleader and discharge Oct. 10, 2019; dismissal on announcement of settlement Oct. 29, 2019; final judgment Nov. 20, 2019.About 7 months from the complaint to final judgment
Hartford v. Nebergall (D. Kan.)Filed 2021; interpleader order Oct. 19, 2021; settlement notice Nov. 15, 2021; settlement denied and guardian ad litem appointed Dec. 6, 2021; consent judgment for a minor's settlement Feb. 9, 2022.About 4 months from interpleader order to judgment, including a second round of settlement talks with the child represented
American General v. Wilson (N.D. Fla.)Filed Aug. 26, 2022; intervention for the minor children Oct. 25, 2022; defaults entered Feb. 27, 2023; default judgment Mar. 3, 2023; minors' settlement approved and judgment Mar. 6, 2023.About 6 months from filing to judgment
Minor children v. Principal Life (N.D. Fla.)Initial scheduling order Nov. 8, 2023; deposit, discharge and dismissal of the insurer Mar. 5, 2024; stay for settlement review Mar. 14, 2024; court asked for more information Apr. 11, 2024; minors' settlement approved and judgment May 1, 2024.About 6 months from the initial order to judgment

Sources for the table: Modern Woodmen v. Harris (N.D. Ala.)19; Protective Life v. Tello (C.D. Cal.)20; Thrivent v. Bressler (D. Ariz.)21; Prudential v. West (N.D. Ohio)22; Jones v. MetLife (E.D. La.)23; MetLife v. Evans (S.D. Tex.)24; MetLife v. Lawless (D.N.J.)25; Penn Mutual v. Estate of Smith (E.D. Cal.)26; Nationwide v. Dunshie (D. Or.)27; Everlake v. Taylor (W.D. Okla.)28; Transamerica v. Lyphout (N.D. Ind.)29; Prudential v. Vagotis (D. Ariz.)30; Aetna v. Vacknitz (S.D. Tex.)31; Hartford v. Nebergall (D. Kan.)32; American General v. Wilson (N.D. Fla.)33; Minor children v. Principal Life (N.D. Fla.)34.

In Dearborn National Life Ins. Co. v. Nogueira (W.D. Tex.), a group life interpleader under a University of Texas System plan, the insurer filed 75 days after the death. The claimants (the insured’s adult sons, who were the named beneficiaries, and the surviving spouse) settled within about seven weeks of the answer, and the fund was paid about five months after the death. The court’s order dismissing the case with prejudice on the parties’ joint stipulation came on February 16, 2018, about 90 days after the stipulation, even though the money had already been paid.35

Default cases can still take a year

CaseKey datesFiling to outcome
Thrivent v. Bloomquist (D. Nev.)Filed June 2, 2017; one claimant served June 29, 2017; deposit ordered Apr. 18, 2018 and made Apr. 19, 2018; default judgment and discharge July 3, 2018.About 13 months
Primerica v. Hood (C.D. Cal.)Death Sept. 7, 2020; filed Mar. 10, 2021; one claimant, a funeral-finance company, served Mar. 30, 2021 and in default May 12, 2021; deposit allowed June 15, 2021, with the insurer dismissed upon deposit; deposit June 29, 2021; insurer's fees awarded July 2, 2021; unopposed default-judgment application and joint disbursement motion May 23, 2022; decided without a hearing as of June 24, 2022; order granting both Aug. 23, 2023; amended order directing disbursement and dismissing the case Sept. 14, 2023. (amended order (PDF).)About 3½ months to the insurer's exit; about 30 months to the disbursement order (about 3 years after the death)
Estate of Budinski v. AAA Life (E.D. Mich.)Estate's suit filed Apr. 3, 2025; insurer's counterclaim and third-party complaint in interpleader May 19, 2025; service by publication allowed Aug. 7, 2025; notice published Aug. 28 to Sept. 11, 2025; default entered Oct. 22, 2025; motion for default judgment Dec. 23, 2025; order granting it June 2, 2026; deposit on or about June 18, 2026; amended order June 23, 2026; order disbursing the fund to the estate and dismissing the case Aug. 21, 2026. (Amended order.)About 14½ months to the amended order; about 16½ months to the disbursement order
American General v. Gibson (E.D. La.)Filed July 12, 2013; deposit allowed July 16, 2013; defaults entered Feb. 11, 2014; unopposed motion June 27, 2014; judgment for the named beneficiary Jan. 21, 2015.About 18 months
Prudential v. Iturbide (C.D. Cal.)Death Feb. 19, 2018; filed July 31, 2018; insurer discharged Feb. 27, 2019; default judgment Apr. 24, 2019; final judgment May 10, 2019.About 9½ months
Reliance Standard v. Coleman (D. Kan.)Death Oct. 13, 2024; filed 2025; one claimant's default entered; insurer's early default-judgment motion denied June 25, 2026 (filed June 26); named beneficiary's default judgment Sept. 1, 2026.About 22½ months from death to judgment
Symetra v. Broderick (W.D. Tex.)Filed 2021; interpleader relief, discharge and a recommendation of default judgment May 2, 2022; default judgment July 27, 2022; amended disbursement order Aug. 15, 2022; final judgment Oct. 11, 2022.About 5 months from discharge to final judgment
Sun Life v. Estate of Wheeler (W.D. Wash.)Filed Mar. 12, 2019; named beneficiary answered Mar. 21, 2019; estate's default entered June 26, 2019; interpleader and default judgment Jan. 28, 2020, with the deposit ordered after that ruling; disbursement order Apr. 17, 2020; judgment May 11, 2020.About 14 months from complaint to judgment, though only one claimant ever appeared
Minor children v. USAA Life (N.D. Fla.)Filed 2024; initial scheduling order Dec. 6, 2024; former spouse's default entered Mar. 31, 2025; minors' settlement approved and default judgment Dec. 22, 2025.About 12½ months from the initial order to judgment
Athene v. Hernandez (W.D. Tex.)Filed Mar. 17, 2025; named beneficiaries' defaults entered Apr. 23, 2025; first default-judgment motion denied with leave to amend Aug. 27, 2025; default judgment Oct. 10, 2025; insurer ordered to move for deposit Oct. 13 and deposit allowed Oct. 23, 2025; disbursement order and final judgment Nov. 3, 2025.About 7½ months from filing to disbursement order
New York Life v. Anderman (S.D. Tex.)Claimant's own suit against the insurer filed Dec. 11, 2025; interpleader filed Dec. 19, 2025; claimant's suit dismissed Dec. 23, 2025; default entered Mar. 3, 2026; default judgment Apr. 27, 2026; deposit and discharge order May 15, 2026; disbursement order signed July 17 and entered July 26, 2026.About 7 months from filing to disbursement order

Sources for the table: Thrivent v. Bloomquist (D. Nev.)36; Primerica v. Hood (C.D. Cal.)13; Estate of Budinski v. AAA Life (E.D. Mich.)37; American General v. Gibson (E.D. La.)15; Prudential v. Iturbide (C.D. Cal.)38; Reliance Standard v. Coleman (D. Kan.)39; Symetra v. Broderick (W.D. Tex.)40; Sun Life v. Estate of Wheeler (W.D. Wash.)41; Minor children v. USAA Life (N.D. Fla.)34; Athene v. Hernandez (W.D. Tex.)42; New York Life v. Anderman (S.D. Tex.)43.

In Budinski, the named beneficiary could not be found. About five months passed between the insurer’s third-party complaint and her default, most of it spent on service attempts and publication, and about six more passed between the motion for default judgment and the order granting it.37

Contested cases

CaseKey datesFiling to ruling
Minnesota Life v. Roberson (W.D. Wash.)Filed July 18, 2018; insurer discharged Mar. 11, 2019; summary judgment motion June 4, 2019; order Aug. 2, 2019; judgment Sept. 26, 2019.About 12½ months to the ruling, 14 to judgment
Harris v. Wiggins (E.D. Tex.)Filed Oct. 15, 2018; deposit Nov. 19, 2018; parties realigned Jan. 29, 2019; summary judgment motion Nov. 3, 2019; reply Dec. 2, 2019; order granting summary judgment signed May 3, 2020; final judgment May 6, 2020; order disbursing the registry funds June 8, 2020.About 18½ months to judgment
State Farm v. Hobin (W.D.N.Y.)Filed Aug. 11, 2022; order for relief in interpleader Dec. 21, 2022; cross-motions Mar. 6, 2023; briefing closed Mar. 16, 2023; decision and judgment Feb. 27, 2024.About 18½ months
Turner v. McCray-Bey (D. Md.)Claim June 18, 2020; complaint Oct. 15, 2021; deposit Feb. 14, 2022; insurer dismissed Feb. 23, 2022; scheduling order Mar. 11, 2022; summary judgment motion Nov. 22, 2022; motion denied and mediation ordered Aug. 3–4, 2023; case closed Oct. 11, 2023.About 21½ months to the ruling, which did not end the case
Primerica v. Townes (E.D. Mo.)Removed from state court Aug. 9, 2024; Rule 16 order Apr. 1, 2025; mediation referral May 14, 2025; deposit order June 25, 2025; deposit July 9, 2025; notice of partial settlement July 22, 2025; fee order Oct. 15, 2025; final judgment and disbursement order Nov. 13, 2025.About 15 months from removal to judgment; about 16 from the state-court summons
American General v. DeLong (N.D. Ga.)Death Nov. 12, 2020; filed early 2021; discharge order May 26, 2021; deposit June 9, 2021; motion to transfer to another division pending for months, denied Feb. 7, 2022; claimants settled; final judgment July 19, 2022.About 17 months
ReliaStar v. Wiemer (E.D. Tex.)Death Aug. 19, 2017; filed Oct. 26, 2017; interpleader relief Feb. 13, 2018; parties reported a compromise and a guardian ad litem was appointed July 16, 2018; guardian's report accepted Aug. 24, 2018; hearing on competing settlement motions Oct. 23, 2018; disbursement order and final judgment Nov. 16, 2018.Nearly 13 months
Transamerica Advisors v. Marsch (M.D. La.)Filed Apr. 19, 2016; deposit May 3, 2016; scheduling order Sept. 6, 2016; partial summary judgment Mar. 23, 2017; consent judgment May 24, 2017; order disbursing the registry funds June 13, 2017.About 11 months to the ruling; about 14 to the disbursement order
Hartford Life v. Jones-Atchison (W.D. Okla.; 10th Cir.)Death Jan. 8, 2017; filed June 2017; insurer discharged Oct. 19, 2017; minor children allowed to intervene; their claims against the insurer dismissed Aug. 23, 2019; claimants' settlement of the interpleaded benefit approved May 20, 2020; interpleader claims dismissed Aug. 11, 2020; remaining state-law crossclaims dismissed without prejudice and judgment entered Aug. 12, 2020; affirmed Sept. 20, 2021.About 3 years 2 months to judgment
Fidelity & Guaranty v. Shipman (D.N.M.)Death Oct. 10, 2022; filed Aug. 30, 2023; deposit allowed Jan. 18, 2024 and made Jan. 26, 2024; summary judgment motion Feb. 7, 2024; insurer discharged Apr. 12, 2024; hearing May 6, 2024; summary judgment denied June 26, 2024; claimants settled; final judgment July 22, 2024.About 4½ months from the motion to the ruling; about 11 months to judgment
MetLife v. Vasquez (N.D. Tex.; 5th Cir.)Death Sept. 7, 2021; the widow's earlier direct suit against the insurer, with summary judgment denied to both sides Nov. 16, 2023; interpleader filed Jan. 4, 2024; deposit and discharge order Mar. 6, 2024; summary judgment Oct. 22, 2024; reversed on appeal Oct. 1, 2025; claimants settled; final judgment Jan. 26, 2026.About 2 years 4 months from death to filing; about 2 years from filing to final judgment, including about 11 months from judgment to the appellate opinion
State Farm v. Hoops (D. Colo.)Filed 2016; insurer dismissed Oct. 26, 2016; recommendation on summary judgment Feb. 27, 2017; adopted Mar. 29, 2017; disbursement order Apr. 17, 2017.About 6 months from the insurer's dismissal to disbursement
Jones v. Prudential (W.D. Wis.)Filed 2024; interpleader and discharge Oct. 18, 2024; opinion on the plan's default beneficiary order Apr. 16, 2025; judgment Apr. 25, 2025.About 6 months from discharge to judgment
Sun Life v. Estate of Jordi (M.D. Tenn.)Filed 2018; insurer dismissed Oct. 1, 2018; case stayed Oct. 15, 2018; stay lifted May 13, 2020; jury demand struck Aug. 5, 2020; final judgment Oct. 16, 2020.About 19 months stayed; final judgment about 5 months after the stay lifted
Primerica v. Donley (N.D. Ala.)Death 2017; filed 2018; deposit order July 16, 2018; guardian ad litem appointed for minor contingent beneficiaries Feb. 4, 2019; mediation ordered June 3 and vacated June 20, 2019; summary judgment granted at a hearing Oct. 18, 2019; discharge and fee order Oct. 22, 2019; final judgment Oct. 30, 2019.About 15 months from the deposit order to final judgment
American General v. Maharajh (M.D. Fla.; 11th Cir.)Filed July 10, 2020; first deposit motion denied Mar. 1, 2021 and renewed motion granted Mar. 24, 2021; summary judgment Dec. 16, 2021 and judgment Dec. 17, 2021; appeal filed January 2022, dismissed for failure to prosecute Mar. 3, 2022 and reinstated Mar. 14, 2022; referred to mediation after oral argument June 30, 2023; affirmed Sept. 6, 2023; disbursement order Sept. 28, 2023; mandate Oct. 5, 2023.About 17 months to judgment, about 20 months on appeal, and about 3 years 2½ months from filing to disbursement order
Everlake v. Lomax (M.D. Tenn.)Filed Aug. 4, 2023; case management order Mar. 7, 2024; interpleader relief and discharge June 10, 2024; deposit reported June 26, 2024; order clarifying the deposit July 24, 2024; summary judgment and disbursement order Mar. 6, 2025.About 19 months
American General v. Martin (N.D. Ill.)Filed 2022; corrected deposit order Sept. 9, 2022; insurer discharged and summary judgment briefing schedule set May 5, 2023; motion recorded as under advisement in 2024; opinion and judgment Dec. 3, 2024.About 19 months from the briefing schedule to the ruling
Sands v. Midland National (S.D. Iowa; N.D. Cal.; 9th Cir.)Filed Aug. 9, 2022 in Iowa; insurer discharged Jan. 30, 2023; cross-claim dismissed May 15, 2023; transferred to California Sept. 11, 2023; summary judgment hearing Sept. 12, 2024; summary judgment and judgment Oct. 28, 2024; affirmed Dec. 15, 2025; rehearing denied Jan. 29, 2026.About 26½ months to judgment; about 3½ years through rehearing

Sources for the table: Minnesota Life v. Roberson (W.D. Wash.)44; Harris v. Wiggins (E.D. Tex.)45; State Farm v. Hobin (W.D.N.Y.)14; Turner v. McCray-Bey (D. Md.)12; Primerica v. Townes (E.D. Mo.)46; American General v. DeLong (N.D. Ga.)47; ReliaStar v. Wiemer (E.D. Tex.)48; Transamerica Advisors v. Marsch (M.D. La.)49; Hartford Life v. Jones-Atchison (W.D. Okla.; 10th Cir.)50; Fidelity & Guaranty v. Shipman (D.N.M.)51; MetLife v. Vasquez (N.D. Tex.; 5th Cir.)52; State Farm v. Hoops (D. Colo.)53; Jones v. Prudential (W.D. Wis.)54; Sun Life v. Estate of Jordi (M.D. Tenn.)55; Primerica v. Donley (N.D. Ala.)56; American General v. Maharajh (M.D. Fla.; 11th Cir.)57; Everlake v. Lomax (M.D. Tenn.)58; American General v. Martin (N.D. Ill.)59; Sands v. Midland National (S.D. Iowa; N.D. Cal.; 9th Cir.)60.

In Lyphout, the insurer asked to deposit the fund when it filed, but the court would “not grant [the insurer] leave to deposit funds absent a showing of notice to all Defendants,” as Rule 67 requires, and the money was deposited about six months later. In Townes, one claimant was served on August 23, 2024, and the court twice extended her time to answer, to March 25, 2025, about seven months after service; after the deposit and a partial settlement, about three more months passed before the court ruled on the insurer’s fee request.46

In Wiemer, the parties had an agreement in principle by July 2018, but four more months passed while a guardian ad litem reviewed it for the minor children and the court resolved a dispute over the settlement’s terms; the court would disburse the fund but would not approve the broader family agreement (see settling an interpleader). In Vasquez, the delay before the interpleader came partly from the widow’s earlier lawsuit against the insurer, and an appeal added most of a year.

When a criminal case is pending

In Wilty v. Prudential (W.D. Tenn.), five claimants filed an ERISA suit on August 31, 2018. The insurer had already paid the death benefit to the insured’s widow, and it brought the dispute into the case by counterclaim and third-party complaint. The court entered a temporary restraining order on September 25, 2018 and a consent order on November 7, 2018. At an April 11, 2019 status conference the court “decided to stay the case due to a Plaintiff facing criminal charges.” It entered a further order on September 22, 2021; a Mississippi chancery court entered an order for the insured’s minor daughter on November 5, 2021; the claimants filed a joint motion on November 15, 2021; the court approved their settlement and the distribution of the registry funds by consent order on November 19, 2021 (consent order); and it entered judgment on December 1, 2021 (judgment), more than three years after filing. The parties settled, so no court decided the slayer question.61

Two federal cases over the same family’s deaths show how long a parallel criminal case can hold an interpleader. A son was charged with killing both parents, and the insurers on the parents’ coverage filed separate interpleaders in Tennessee and Louisiana in 2018.

CaseKey datesTime stayed / overall
Standard v. Guy (E.D. Tenn.; 6th Cir.)Filed 2018; deposit order Aug. 16, 2018; stayed pending the criminal case Sept. 27, 2018; stay partly lifted to let the insurer seek discharge Sept. 4, 2019; insurer discharged Feb. 3, 2020; stay lifted after the conviction, Oct. 22, 2020; summary judgment and judgment May 20, 2021; affirmed Aug. 19, 2024.Stayed about 25 months; about 3 years to judgment, 6 to the appellate decision
Transamerica v. Guy (E.D. La.)Filed August 2018; deposit order Nov. 19, 2018; stayed May 14, 2019; stay lifted Jan. 21, 2021; insurer discharged Feb. 19, 2021; slayer ruling June 28, 2021; supplemental ruling and final judgment Sept. 20, 2021.Stayed about 20 months; about 3 years 1 month overall
First Unum v. Marshall (W.D. Mo.)Death Apr. 16, 2023; filed Dec. 11, 2023; discovery stayed pending the named beneficiary's criminal case Feb. 29, 2024; conviction Apr. 18, 2024; stay lifted Apr. 30, 2024 after he agreed to relinquish his claim; dismissed by stipulation May 20, 2024.About 8 months from death to filing; about 5 months from filing to dismissal

Sources for the table: Standard v. Guy (E.D. Tenn.; 6th Cir.)62; Transamerica v. Guy (E.D. La.)63; First Unum v. Marshall (W.D. Mo.)64.

In both Guy cases, the insurers were released long before the claimants’ rights were decided. The Tennessee court would not keep the case stayed through the criminal appeal, and the Louisiana court held that a conviction disqualifies a beneficiary under Louisiana’s statute while an appeal is pending. See the slayer rule.

When more than one insurer is involved

A single death can lead to separate policies with separate insurers, and sometimes separate lawsuits. When actions before the same court “involve a common question of law or fact,” the court may consolidate them or join them for hearing or trial under Federal Rule of Civil Procedure 42(a).65 An insurer that is contesting its own coverage, for example by seeking rescission of a policy, may also ask for interpleader in the alternative, so that the benefit is paid into court if the coverage challenge fails. Each added insurer, theory or related proceeding (such as a probate court’s approval of a settlement on an estate’s behalf) adds steps, and cases like these can run well over a year.

Practical guidance for claimants

  • Respond promptly. Missing the answer deadline can lead to a default and loss of the claim. Calendar the deadline from the date of service.
  • Have documents ready. Policy or plan documents, beneficiary forms, the death certificate, divorce decrees, estate papers and correspondence with the insurer are usually needed early.
  • Keep contact information current. Courts and other parties need a reliable address for every claimant.
  • Consider early settlement. Every month of litigation adds legal fees, and fee awards to the stakeholder come out of the fund. Many claimants settle once the money is in court.
  • Ask about timing. A lawyer familiar with the local court can usually give a better sense of how long that judge’s rulings take.

Footnotes

  1. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Judicial Business 2025, Table C-5, U.S. District Courts, Median Time Intervals From Filing to Disposition of Civil Cases Terminated, by District and Method of Disposition, During the 12-Month Period Ending September 30, 2025. U.S. Courts (PDF). ↩

  2. Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, Judicial Business 2025, Table B-4, U.S. Courts of Appeals, Median Time Intervals in Months for Cases Terminated on the Merits, by Circuit, During the 12-Month Period Ending September 30, 2025 (column “Filing of Notice of Appeal or Docket Date to Last Opinion or Final Order”; excludes the Federal Circuit). U.S. Courts (PDF). ↩

  3. Fed. R. Civ. P. 4(m). Cornell LII. ↩

  4. 28 U.S.C. § 2361. Cornell LII. ↩

  5. Fed. R. Civ. P. 12(a)(1)(A). Cornell LII. ↩

  6. 28 U.S.C. § 1335(a)(2); Fed. R. Civ. P. 67; 28 U.S.C. § 2041. Cornell LII § 1335; Rule 67; § 2041. ↩

  7. Fed. R. Civ. P. 55. Cornell LII. ↩

  8. Fed. R. Civ. P. 16(b)(2). Cornell LII. ↩

  9. 28 U.S.C. § 2042. Cornell LII. ↩

  10. Fed. R. Civ. P. 54(d)(2)(B). Cornell LII. ↩

  11. Fed. R. App. P. 4(a)(1)(A)–(B). Cornell LII. ↩

  12. Turner v. McCray-Bey, No. 1:21-cv-02656-CCB (D. Md. Aug. 3, 2023), ECF No. 34. Court memorandum (PDF). Filing, service, scheduling, mediation and closing dates are from the public docket as indexed on CourtListener. ↩ ↩2 ↩3

  13. Primerica Life Ins. Co. v. Hood, No. 2:21-cv-02189-FLA (AGRx) (C.D. Cal.): order granting motion to deposit funds (June 15, 2021, ECF No. 31); amended order granting default judgment and interpleader disbursement (Sept. 14, 2023, ECF No. 47), at 2–3, 9–11, court order (PDF). The amended order replaced an order of Aug. 23, 2023 (ECF No. 46) that granted the same relief. ↩ ↩2

  14. State Farm Life & Accident Assurance Co. v. Hobin, No. 1:22-cv-00611-LJV-LGF (W.D.N.Y. Feb. 27, 2024), ECF Nos. 32 and 33. Decision (PDF); judgment (PDF). The order for relief in interpleader is ECF No. 17 (Dec. 21, 2022). ↩ ↩2

  15. American General Life Ins. Co. v. Gibson, No. 2:13-cv-05069-NJB-SS (E.D. La. Jan. 21, 2015), Rec. Doc. 59. govinfo (PDF). ↩ ↩2

  16. 28 U.S.C. § 476(a). Cornell LII. ↩

  17. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). Cornell LII. ↩

  18. 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1). Cornell LII. ↩

  19. Modern Woodmen of America v. Harris, No. 7:26-cv-00239-EGL (N.D. Ala.): order granting deposit, ECF No. 6 (Feb. 19, 2026); notice of reassignment, ECF No. 19 (Apr. 29, 2026); initial order, ECF No. 20 (Apr. 29, 2026); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 30 (Aug. 20, 2026), at 3, court order (PDF); final judgment, ECF No. 31 (Aug. 20, 2026), court judgment (PDF); disbursement order, ECF No. 33 (Sept. 1, 2026). ↩

  20. Protective Life Ins. Co. v. Tello, No. 2:25-cv-10327-PA-MAR (C.D. Cal.): order granting stipulation for deposit, discharge and dismissal (May 12, 2026, ECF No. 56); order granting summary judgment (June 17, 2026, ECF No. 63), court order (PDF); order granting default judgment (July 1, 2026, ECF No. 65), which recites the filing, service and default dates, court order (PDF). ↩

  21. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans v. Bressler, No. 3:16-cv-08135-BSB (D. Ariz. Mar. 16, 2017), ECF Nos. 67 and 68. Order (PDF); judgment (PDF). ↩

  22. Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. West, No. 5:20-cv-00029-SL (N.D. Ohio): Order for Relief in Interpleader, ECF No. 30 (July 14, 2020); Final Judgment and Order of Interpleader Disbursement, ECF No. 51 (Feb. 26, 2021), which recites the date of death and the deposit on or about July 24, 2020. The filing month is inferred from the 2020 case number. ↩

  23. Jones v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., No. 2:24-cv-01967 (E.D. La.): ECF Nos. 15, 26, 29, 31, 34; final judgment (PDF). Removal and pleading dates as recited in the final judgment. ↩

  24. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Evans, No. 4:24-cv-03276 (S.D. Tex.): ECF No. 27 (Dec. 18, 2024); ECF No. 28 (Dec. 20, 2024), PDF; ECF No. 38 (Jan. 30, 2025), PDF. Death and filing dates as recited in ECF No. 38. ↩

  25. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Lawless, No. 3:19-cv-13688-MAS-ZNQ (D.N.J. Nov. 15, 2019), ECF No. 39 (memorandum opinion and order denying stay), at 2–3; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Lawless, No. 3:19-cv-13688-MAS-ZNQ (D.N.J. filed Dec. 5, 2019), ECF No. 46 (consent order providing interpleader relief); Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Lawless, No. 3:19-cv-13688-ZNQ (D.N.J. Apr. 27, 2020), ECF No. 72 (final judgment and order of interpleader disbursement), at 2, court judgment (PDF). ↩

  26. Penn Mut. Life Ins. Co. v. Estate of Smith, No. 1:23-cv-00722-SAB (E.D. Cal.), order granting stipulated motion for interpleader relief and attorneys’ fee award, ECF No. 26 (Sept. 8, 2023), court order (PDF), at 4–5; order granting entry of final judgment, ECF No. 32 (Nov. 30, 2023), court order (PDF). ↩

  27. Nationwide Life & Annuity Ins. Co. v. Dunshie, No. 6:22-cv-00995-MK (D. Or.), order to deposit funds, ECF No. 32 (Mar. 3, 2023); findings and recommendation, ECF No. 41 (Apr. 21, 2023), court order (PDF); order adopting findings and recommendation, ECF No. 56 (May 24, 2023), court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 57 (May 24, 2023), court judgment (PDF); final judgment and order of interpleader disbursement, ECF No. 76 (July 24, 2023), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  28. Everlake Assurance Co. v. Taylor, No. 5:25-cv-00359-HE (W.D. Okla.), order, ECF No. 15 (June 2, 2025), at 1; order, ECF No. 23 (July 8, 2025), court order (PDF); order, ECF No. 24 (July 8, 2025), at 2–3; final judgment and order of interpleader disbursement, ECF No. 29 (Aug. 18, 2025), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  29. Transamerica Life Ins. Co. v. Lyphout, No. 3:25-cv-00444-CCB-SJF (N.D. Ind.), order, ECF No. 19 (July 23, 2025), at 1–2; final judgment order in interpleader, ECF No. 39 (Dec. 10, 2025), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  30. Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Vagotis, No. 2:17-cv-02761 (D. Ariz.): order for interpleader relief and discharge, ECF No. 24 (Oct. 12, 2017); consent judgment, ECF No. 35 (entered Nov. 13, 2017), court judgment (PDF); order dismissing case, ECF No. 36 (Mar. 29, 2018). The description of the claims comes from the case file, not from a ruling; no court decided undue influence. ↩

  31. Aetna Life Ins. Co. v. Vacknitz, No. 4:19-cv-01590 (S.D. Tex.): order granting interpleader and discharge, ECF No. 13 (Oct. 10, 2019); order of dismissal on announcement of settlement, ECF No. 17 (Oct. 29, 2019); final judgment, ECF No. 19 (Nov. 20, 2019), court judgment (PDF). The description of the claims comes from the case file, not from a ruling; no court decided capacity. ↩

  32. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Nebergall, No. 6:21-cv-01184-JAR-JPO (D. Kan.): interpleader order, ECF No. 11 (Oct. 19, 2021); order, ECF No. 20 (Nov. 15, 2021); memorandum and order denying approval of settlement and appointing guardian ad litem, ECF No. 25 (Dec. 6, 2021), court order (PDF); consent judgment, ECF No. 29 (Feb. 9, 2022), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  33. American General Life Ins. Co. v. Wilson, No. 1:22-cv-00213-MW-ZCB (N.D. Fla.): order granting intervention, ECF No. 11 (Oct. 25, 2022); order granting default judgment, ECF No. 27 (Mar. 3, 2023), at 6–8, court order (PDF); order approving settlement and entering final judgment, ECF No. 31 (Mar. 6, 2023), at 1–3, court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 32 (Mar. 6, 2023), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  34. Minor children’s suit against Principal Life Ins. Co., No. 3:23-cv-24636-MCR-HTC (N.D. Fla.) (captioned by the children’s initials): order granting deposit, discharge and dismissal of the insurer, ECF No. 15 (Mar. 5, 2024); order staying the case, ECF No. 17 (Mar. 14, 2024); order, ECF No. 21 (Apr. 11, 2024); order approving settlement, ECF No. 23 (May 1, 2024), at 1–9, court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 24 (May 1, 2024), court judgment (PDF). Minor children’s suit against USAA Life Ins. Co., No. 3:24-cv-00577-MCR-HTC (N.D. Fla.): clerk’s default, ECF No. 15 (Mar. 31, 2025); order approving settlement, ECF No. 19 (Dec. 22, 2025), court order (PDF). ↩ ↩2

  35. Dearborn Nat’l Life Ins. Co. v. Nogueira, No. 1:17-cv-00736-RP (W.D. Tex.), order dismissing case with prejudice, ECF No. 8 (Feb. 16, 2018); other dates from the public docket. ↩

  36. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans v. Bloomquist, No. 2:17-cv-01555-JCM-NJK (D. Nev. July 3, 2018), ECF No. 32. Court order (PDF). ↩

  37. Estate of Budinski v. AAA Life Ins. Co., No. 2:25-cv-10964-TGB-EAS (E.D. Mich.), amended order of June 23, 2026, ECF No. 24, at 3–4, court order (PDF); order granting unopposed motion for interpleader disbursement and dismissing case, Aug. 21, 2026, ECF No. 25; other dates from the public docket as indexed on CourtListener (ECF Nos. 9, 14, 19, 21, 22 and 25). ↩ ↩2

  38. Prudential Ins. Co. of America v. Iturbide, No. 8:18-cv-01325-JLS-ADS (C.D. Cal.): ECF No. 29 (Feb. 27, 2019), PDF; ECF No. 33 (Apr. 24, 2019), PDF; ECF No. 35 (May 10, 2019), PDF. ↩

  39. Reliance Standard Life Ins. Co. v. Coleman, No. 2:25-cv-02587-HLT-GEB (D. Kan.): ECF No. 13, PDF; ECF No. 16 (Sept. 1, 2026), PDF. ↩

  40. Symetra Life Ins. Co. v. Broderick, No. 1:21-cv-00721-RP (W.D. Tex.), report and recommendation of the United States magistrate judge, ECF No. 20 (May 2, 2022), at 1–3, court order (PDF); order adopting report and recommendation, ECF No. 24 (July 27, 2022), court order (PDF); default judgment, ECF No. 25 (July 27, 2022), court judgment (PDF); amended order for disbursement, ECF No. 28 (Aug. 15, 2022); final judgment, ECF No. 29 (Oct. 11, 2022), court judgment (PDF). The discharge order is order granting interpleader relief and discharge, ECF No. 19 (May 2, 2022). ↩

  41. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. Estate of Wheeler, No. 2:19-cv-00364-JLR (W.D. Wash.), order granting interpleader and default judgment, ECF No. 31 (Jan. 28, 2020), at 6, 9–10, 12, court order (PDF); order granting interpleader disbursement, ECF No. 33 (Apr. 17, 2020); judgment, ECF No. 34 (May 11, 2020), court judgment (PDF); clerk’s order of default, ECF No. 17 (June 26, 2019). ↩

  42. Athene Annuity & Life Co. v. Hernandez, No. 6:25-cv-00094-LS (W.D. Tex.): clerk’s entries of default, ECF No. 12 (Apr. 23, 2025); order denying motion for default judgment with leave to amend, ECF No. 18 (Aug. 27, 2025), court order (PDF); default judgment, ECF No. 26 (Oct. 10, 2025), court order (PDF); order to move for deposit, ECF No. 27 (Oct. 13, 2025); deposit and discharge order, ECF No. 29 (Oct. 23, 2025); disbursement order, ECF No. 32, and final judgment, ECF No. 33 (Nov. 3, 2025), disbursement order, final judgment (PDF). The filing date is from the docket. Summary. ↩

  43. New York Life Ins. Co. v. Anderman, No. 4:25-cv-06165 (S.D. Tex.): clerk’s entry of default, ECF No. 13 (Mar. 3, 2026); default judgment, ECF No. 20 (Apr. 27, 2026), court order (PDF); deposit and discharge order, ECF No. 22 (May 15, 2026); disbursement order, ECF No. 24 (signed July 17, 2026, entered July 26, 2026); Anderman v. New York Life Ins. Co., No. 4:25-cv-05959 (S.D. Tex.), order of dismissal, ECF No. 8 (Dec. 23, 2025). Filing dates are from the dockets. Summary. ↩

  44. Minnesota Life Ins. Co. v. Roberson, No. 2:18-cv-01058-RAJ (W.D. Wash.), order of Aug. 2, 2019 (ECF No. 31) and judgment of Sept. 26, 2019 (ECF No. 34). Order (PDF); judgment (PDF). ↩

  45. Harris v. Wiggins (originally Primerica Life Ins. Co. v. Wiggins), No. 1:18-cv-00523-MAC (E.D. Tex.). Filing and deposit dates from the Memorandum and Order of May 3, 2020, ECF No. 25, at 2, court order (PDF); realignment order, ECF No. 13 (Jan. 29, 2019); motion and reply dates from CourtListener docket entries 16 and 18; Final Judgment, ECF No. 27 (May 6, 2020), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  46. Primerica Life Ins. Co. v. Townes, No. 4:24-cv-01099-RHH (E.D. Mo.), memorandum and order, ECF No. 61 (Oct. 15, 2025), court order (PDF); order, ECF No. 51 (June 25, 2025), at 2; final judgment and order for disbursement of funds, ECF No. 64 (Nov. 13, 2025), court judgment (PDF); other dates from the public docket as indexed on CourtListener. ↩ ↩2

  47. American General Life Ins. Co. v. DeLong, No. 1:21-cv-00790-JPB (N.D. Ga.): ECF No. 19 (May 26, 2021); ECF No. 21 (Feb. 7, 2022); ECF No. 34 (July 19, 2022), PDF. ↩

  48. ReliaStar Life Ins. Co. v. Wiemer, No. 4:17-cv-00771 (E.D. Tex.), memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 61 (Nov. 16, 2018), at 1–4, court order (PDF); order accepting the guardian ad litem’s report, ECF No. 44 (Aug. 24, 2018); final judgment, ECF No. 62 (Nov. 16, 2018), court judgment (PDF); order appointing guardian ad litem, ECF No. 41 (July 16, 2018). ↩

  49. Transamerica Advisors Life Ins. Co. v. Marsch, No. 3:16-cv-00247-RLB (M.D. La.), consent ruling on motion for partial summary judgment, ECF No. 28 (signed Mar. 22, 2017, filed Mar. 23, 2017), at 3, 9, court order (PDF); consent judgment, ECF No. 30 (May 24, 2017), court judgment (PDF); consent order disbursing registry funds, ECF No. 31 (June 13, 2017). The scheduling order (ECF No. 19) is cited from the court record. ↩

  50. Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Jones-Atchison, No. 5:17-cv-00654 (W.D. Okla.), order, ECF No. 79 (Aug. 23, 2019), at 9–12, court order (PDF) (at 3, discharge date); agreed order for disbursement, ECF No. 101 (May 20, 2020); order, ECF No. 125 (Aug. 12, 2020), at 5–7, court order (PDF) (at 1–3); judgment, ECF No. 126 (Aug. 12, 2020), court judgment (PDF); Hartford Life & Accident Ins. Co. v. Jones-Atchison, No. 20-6135 (10th Cir. Sept. 20, 2021) (unpublished), govinfo (PDF). ↩

  51. Fidelity & Guaranty Life Ins. Co. v. Shipman, No. 1:23-cv-00731-DHU-LF (D.N.M.), memorandum order granting leave to deposit funds, ECF No. 22 (Jan. 18, 2024); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 37 (Apr. 12, 2024), court order (PDF); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 43 (June 26, 2024), court order (PDF); final judgment, ECF No. 47 (July 22, 2024), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  52. Vasquez v. Metropolitan Life Ins. Co., No. 4:23-cv-00123-P (N.D. Tex. Nov. 16, 2023), ECF No. 34 (order denying cross-motions for summary judgment); Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Vasquez, No. 4:24-cv-00009-BJ (N.D. Tex. Mar. 6, 2024), ECF No. 14 (order on deposit and discharge); Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Vasquez, No. 4:24-cv-00009-BJ (N.D. Tex. Oct. 22, 2024), ECF No. 32 (memorandum opinion and order), at 13, 17, court order (PDF), at 1–2; Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Vasquez, No. 24-11024, 2025 WL 2795055 (5th Cir. Oct. 1, 2025) (per curiam) (unpublished), opinion as filed in the district court (PDF); judgment (PDF); Metropolitan Life Ins. Co. v. Vasquez, No. 4:24-cv-00009-BJ (N.D. Tex. Jan. 26, 2026), ECF No. 46 (final judgment), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  53. State Farm Life Ins. Co. v. Hoops, No. 1:16-cv-01136-RM-KLM (D. Colo.), recommendation of United States magistrate judge, ECF No. 55 (Feb. 27, 2017), court order (PDF), at 6–10; order adopting recommendation, ECF No. 58 (Mar. 29, 2017), court order (PDF); order for disbursement, ECF No. 63 (Apr. 17, 2017). ↩

  54. Jones v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, No. 3:24-cv-00214-wmc (W.D. Wis.), opinion and order, ECF No. 36 (Apr. 16, 2025), at 2–5, court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 37 (Apr. 25, 2025), court judgment (PDF); interpleader and discharge order, ECF No. 21 (Oct. 18, 2024). ↩

  55. Sun Life Assurance Co. of Canada v. Estate of Jordi, No. 2:18-cv-00055 (M.D. Tenn.), memorandum order striking jury demand, ECF No. 59 (Aug. 5, 2020), at 3 n.2, 4, 6 (cited by docket number); final judgment, ECF No. 68 (Oct. 16, 2020), court judgment (PDF). The insurer was dismissed by ECF No. 39 (Oct. 1, 2018); the case was stayed by ECF No. 42 (Oct. 15, 2018) and the stay lifted by ECF No. 47 (May 13, 2020). ↩

  56. Primerica Life Ins. Co. v. Donley, No. 3:18-cv-00995-AKK (N.D. Ala.): final judgment, ECF No. 40 (Oct. 30, 2019), at 1–3, court judgment (PDF); order granting discharge and fees, ECF No. 38 (Oct. 22, 2019), court order (PDF); order appointing guardian ad litem, ECF No. 21 (Feb. 4, 2019); order granting deposit, ECF No. 6 (July 16, 2018). ↩

  57. American General Life Ins. Co. v. Maharajh, No. 8:20-cv-1581-WFJ-CPT (M.D. Fla.) (captioned in the district court by the minor’s initials): order denying deposit, ECF No. 24 (Mar. 1, 2021); deposit order, ECF No. 29 (Mar. 24, 2021); order granting summary judgment, ECF No. 62 (Dec. 16, 2021), court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 63 (Dec. 17, 2021), court judgment (PDF); disbursement order, ECF No. 79 (Sept. 28, 2023); No. 22-10220 (11th Cir.): dismissal for failure to prosecute (Mar. 3, 2022); order reinstating appeal (Mar. 14, 2022); mediation order (June 30, 2023); opinion (Sept. 6, 2023), court copy (PDF) (also on govinfo.gov); judgment issued as mandate (Oct. 5, 2023). The filing date is from the docket. Summary. ↩

  58. Everlake Life Ins. Co. v. Lomax, No. 3:23-cv-00805 (M.D. Tenn.): case management order (Mar. 7, 2024); order granting interpleader relief and discharge, ECF No. 36 (June 10, 2024); clerk’s deposit report, ECF No. 38 (June 26, 2024); order clarifying the deposit, ECF No. 41 (July 24, 2024); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 45 (Mar. 6, 2025), court order (PDF). The filing date is from the court’s docket. ↩

  59. American General Life Ins. Co. v. Martin, No. 1:22-cv-04422 (N.D. Ill.): corrected deposit order, ECF No. 11 (Sept. 9, 2022); discharge order, ECF No. 58 (May 5, 2023); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 75 (Dec. 3, 2024), court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 76, court judgment (PDF). The briefing schedule and status entries are from the court’s docket. ↩

  60. Sands v. Midland National Life Ins. Co., No. 4:22-cv-00259 (S.D. Iowa): interpleader and discharge order (Jan. 30, 2023); order dismissing the cross-claim (May 15, 2023), court order (PDF); transfer order (Sept. 11, 2023). No. 4:23-cv-04680-DMR (N.D. Cal.), order granting summary judgment, ECF No. 85 (Oct. 28, 2024), court order (PDF). Sands v. Norman, No. 24-7237 (9th Cir.): memorandum (Dec. 15, 2025), court copy (PDF); order denying rehearing (Jan. 29, 2026). ↩

  61. Wilty v. Prudential Ins. Co. of America, No. 2:18-cv-02602-JTF (W.D. Tenn.): TRO order, Sept. 25, 2018 (PDF); consent order, Nov. 7, 2018; order, Sept. 22, 2021, which records the stay at the April 11, 2019 status conference; chancery court order, Nov. 5, 2021. Filing, disbursement and closing dates are from the public docket. See the fuller account in when a claimant sues first. ↩

  62. Standard Ins. Co. v. Guy, No. 2:18-cv-00074 (E.D. Tenn.), order, ECF No. 33 (Aug. 16, 2018); order, ECF No. 40 (Sept. 27, 2018); order, ECF No. 51 (Sept. 4, 2019); order, ECF No. 60 (Feb. 3, 2020), court order (PDF); memorandum opinion and order, ECF No. 120 (May 20, 2021), court order (PDF); judgment, ECF No. 121 (May 20, 2021), court judgment (PDF); Standard Ins. Co. v. Guy, 115 F.4th 518 (6th Cir. 2024), court copy (PDF); Sixth Circuit (PDF). ↩

  63. Transamerica Premier Life Ins. Co. v. Guy, No. 2:18-cv-07993 (E.D. La.), order, ECF No. 13 (Nov. 19, 2018); order, ECF No. 19 (May 14, 2019); order, ECF No. 26 (Jan. 21, 2021); order, ECF No. 39 (Feb. 19, 2021); order and reasons, ECF No. 63 (June 28, 2021), court order (PDF); order, ECF No. 65 (Sept. 20, 2021); final judgment, ECF No. 66 (Sept. 20, 2021), court judgment (PDF). ↩

  64. First Unum Life Ins. Co. v. Marshall, No. 4:23-cv-00901-DGK (W.D. Mo.): order re proposed scheduling order, ECF No. 16 (Feb. 29, 2024), at 1–2; text order lifting stay, ECF No. 19 (Apr. 30, 2024); insurer’s notice of settlement and motion to stay, ECF No. 20 (May 6, 2024), at 1; joint stipulation of dismissal with prejudice, ECF No. 22 (May 20, 2024), at 1–3 (all three cited by docket number). The case settled; no court ruled on the slayer statute or on whether state or federal law governed the plan. ↩

  65. Fed. R. Civ. P. 42(a). Cornell LII. ↩