Prudential Life Insurance review: Pay the remainder of the $1,000 life insurance policy

I am the trustee of my Aunt's estate. My Aunt was predeceased by my Uncle. My Aunt had only a $1,000. life insurance policy. I filed all the paperwork , including a death certificate, all 26 pages of the Trust, TIN for the Trust, and a 12 page Prudential form.

They eventually sent out a check for HALF of the policy saying there was another beneficiary called TESTEMENTARY Trust. There is no such trust and no other beneficiaries. After numerous frustrating phone calls, the finally say that I need to go to Probate court, be named by the court as executor of testamentary trust, and file a small estate application. (There is no small estate application in NH!). I can refile for the remainder in 18 months!

It would cost the estate much more in time and lawyers fees to do this.

My Uncle was a disabled Veteran from the Korean War, and my Aunt was a school lunch lady. I feel Prudential Life insurance is screwing over 2 hard working Americans over about $500. It's not the money, but the fact that they feel they can get away with this.