How to Find Life Insurance Policies of Deceased Parents & Loved Ones

Accurate information helps when searching for a deceased person's life insurance policy. The more details you have, the better your chances, whether using free resources or services like the National Association of Insurance Commissioners Life Insurance Policy Locator.

This information speeds up your search and helps you approach insurance companies, legal professionals and life insurance locator services with the necessary details to uncover any existing life insurance policies.

If primary search methods haven't worked, try these additional approaches to uncover hidden life insurance policies:

• Check bank statements: Look for regular payments to insurance companies in your loved one's records, whether monthly, quarterly or annual. Automatic transfers and electronic payments often point to active policies.
• Search mail and email: Go through physical correspondence and email inboxes for insurance statements, policy updates and newsletters. Don't overlook cloud storage or archived online statements.
• Examine other insurance documents: If you've already turned up some policies, their applications are worth a close read. Insurers routinely asked applicants to disclose all coverage they held at the time, so one policy can point you to others.
• Review tax returns: Income tax filings sometimes show insurance-related payments or interest income from insurers, both of which can confirm a policy was active.
• Contact state insurance departments: Your state's insurance department can point you toward licensed agencies that search for policies and will notify you if they find coverage. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners also runs a Life Insurance Policy Locator service.
• Search unclaimed property databases: If a payout was never collected, the funds may have transferred to your state's unclaimed property office. A quick search of their database under the deceased person's name can surface anything waiting to be claimed.
• Hire a private search firm: When all else fails, these companies specialize in locating policies and have access to resources outside the public's reach, including channels most people wouldn't think to check.

If you qualify to request policy information, collect the required details before contacting insurers or search services. Use free policy locator tools to help in your search. Finding all policies and notifying all beneficiaries fulfills your loved one's final wishes.

A life insurance policy identifies all beneficiaries by name. You're named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy if your name appears on the policy. There are no restrictions on who can be named as a beneficiary. 

A policyholder can select any person, charity, business or trust. Your loved one might have chosen someone unfamiliar to you as their beneficiary.

Life insurance policies designate two main categories of beneficiaries:

• Primary Beneficiary: The person or entity first in line to receive the death benefit when the policyholder dies.
• Contingent Beneficiary: The secondary recipient who receives the benefit only if all primary beneficiaries are deceased at the time of the policyholder's death.

As a beneficiary, be aware of life insurance scams, because they can lead to identity theft. Scammers can use life insurance to ask for your personal information, claiming it's needed for you to claim the death benefit.

Filing a life insurance claim starts with a certified death certificate. The insurer needs this document to confirm the policyholder's death and begin processing the payout.

1. Get a certified death certificate from the funeral home or the state vital records office. Most insurers require the certified version, not a photocopy.
2. Contact the insurer directly, either by phone or through its online claims portal, to start the claim and confirm which policy number applies.
3. Complete the claim form the insurer provides. This form asks for the policy number and the cause of death. It also collects the beneficiary's contact information.
4. Submit the completed form and death certificate along with proof of identity, such as a driver's license or passport, for the named beneficiary.

Insurers review claims faster when beneficiaries submit complete paperwork the first time. A missing signature or an uncertified death certificate is the most common reason a claim gets delayed. Once the insurer approves the claim, most policies pay out within 14 to 60 days. State law and how quickly the paperwork was filed can extend that timeline.

If the death happened within the policy's contestability period (usually the first two years), the insurer may take longer to review the application for accuracy before paying the claim.

A thorough search that turns up nothing doesn't rule out prior coverage. Policies can be lapsed, surrendered or already paid out.

1. The policy may have lapsed. If the deceased missed premium payments, the policy could have lapsed before death. Some policies include automatic premium loans or grace periods that extend coverage past a missed payment. Call the insurer and ask whether a policy existed, even if it was no longer active at the time of death.
2. The benefits may have already been paid. If another beneficiary filed a claim first, the benefit has been paid out. The insurer can confirm whether a prior claim exists without disclosing the other beneficiary's personal information.
3. Consult an attorney when a large amount is at stake. Records of premium payments or financial advisor documentation pointing to a substantial policy are worth bringing to an attorney who handles insurance disputes. An attorney can send formal demand letters and pursue legal action if needed.

Start the search by going through personal belongings, contacting former employers and reviewing bank statements for recurring premium payments. The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator searches by Social Security number at no cost, though results take 90 or more business days. MIB Group returns results in 21 business days for $75. Your state's unclaimed property database is also worth checking.

Gather important documents early, including the death certificate and proof of your relationship. This speeds up the claims process.

We answer common questions about tracking down and claiming a deceased policyholder's life insurance: