How to find out if deceased person had life insurance

Every year, millions of dollars in life insurance benefits remain unclaimed. Sometimes, beneficiaries can't find their deceased relative's policies or, in some cases, may not even know the policies exist. To help solve this issue, the NAIC created the Life Insurance Policy Locator, a free online tool that helps consumers find their deceased loved one’s life insurance policies and annuity contracts.  

Steps You Need to Take  
The locator is easy to use. In your web browser, navigate to naic.org, hover over Consumer, and click Life Insurance Policy Locator under Tools.

• Create an account by entering your email address and name. 
• Create a password. 
• Wait 30 minutes 
• Login and agree to the process. 
• Enter your name and address. 
• Submit a search request by entering the deceased’s information from the death certificate: 
  • Social security number 
  • Legal first name 
  • Legal last name 
  • Date of birth 
  • Date of death

After all required fields have been filled, click on the submit button.  

Your request will be stored in a secure, encrypted database where participating life insurance and annuity companies can access the information through a secure portal. You will receive a ”Do Not Reply” email confirming the request details you submitted. If a policy is found and you are the beneficiary, the life insurance or annuity company will contact you directly, usually within 90 days. 

If no policy is found or you are not the beneficiary, you will not be contacted. Please note that the NAIC has no policy or beneficiary information. 

For assistance, contact the NAIC Help Desk at [email protected] or review the LPL Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ). 

About the National Association of Insurance Commissioners

As part of our state-based system of insurance regulation in the United States, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides expertise, data, and analysis for insurance commissioners to effectively regulate the industry and protect consumers. The U.S. standard-setting organization is governed by the chief insurance regulators from the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. Through the NAIC, state insurance regulators establish standards and best practices, conduct peer reviews, and coordinate regulatory oversight. NAIC staff supports these efforts and represents the collective views of state regulators domestically and internationally.

When a loved one dies, sorting through everything they left behind can seem overwhelming. And while dealing with paperwork while you're grieving is the last thing you want to do, life insurance benefits can be crucial for covering funeral costs, settling the person's debts or helping surviving family members pay their bills.

What if you don't know whether your loved one had life insurance or you can't locate their policy? To find a loved one's lost insurance policy, you can search their records, contact their financial advisors or check their safe deposit box. Read on for other ways to find a missing life insurance policy.

1. Search Their Files

Look through your loved one's paper and computer files for the life insurance policy. You may find a copy of an application for life insurance, which can also help: In addition to indicating a possible insurance policy, the application will include a list of any other life insurance policies they had at the time they submitted their application.

2. Search Online

• Use the Life Insurance Policy Locator Service, a free tool from the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. When you submit a request using this tool, participating insurance carriers are asked to search for policies.
• Use your state insurance department's policy finder, which will direct your inquiry to all participating life insurance companies that sell policies within that state.
• If your state doesn't have an online policy finder, contact your state's insurance department for help locating the policy.

3. Ask Their Financial Advisors

Your loved one's financial planner, accountant, attorney or insurance agent may know of existing life insurance policies.

4. Contact Their Home or Auto Insurance Company

People often bundle multiple types of insurance, such as buying homeowners insurance and life insurance from the same company. Contact the claims or customer service department of the company where your loved one had home or auto insurance to see if there is also a life insurance policy.

5. Contact Their Current and Former Employers

Many employers offer group term life insurance as an employee benefit. Some companies even offer this insurance to spouses or dependents. Check with past and current employers of your loved one, their surviving spouse and their children for life insurance policies through their company.

6. Look Through Their Bank Records

Bank statements or checks showing payments to insurance companies could help you track down a life insurance policy. You may need to contact bank officials to access their records and provide proof that you are entitled to this information.

7. Check Their Safe Deposit Box

If you have the key to your loved one's safe deposit box, ask the bank how to gain access. You'll likely have to provide documents proving your kinship. If you're not sure whether they had a safe deposit box, you can contact the bank where they had their accounts, look through canceled checks or bank records for payments to a bank, or watch their mail for notices requesting payment for the box.

8. Contact Organizations to Which Your Loved One Belonged

Contact professional associations, labor unions, fraternal organizations, credit unions and other groups that your loved one belonged to. Like employers, organizations often offer group term life insurance for members.

9. Review Their Tax Returns

Income tax returns may show interest income from a permanent life insurance policy with cash value. If your family member borrowed against a life insurance policy, the returns should show any interest paid on the loan.

10. Watch Their Mail and Email

Life insurance companies often send bills, statements, dividend notices and other updates. Monitor the person's mail and email for at least a year for this type of letter. Have physical mail redirected to your address or a P.O. box to prevent it from falling into the hands of identity thieves.