How to find a deceased person's life insurance policy

Start with the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, which sends your request to participating life insurance and annuity companies. Then look through their paperwork and bank statements, ask their former employers, and search state unclaimed property. The Texas Department of Insurance recommends the same steps.

Where do you look first for a lost life insurance policy?

Folders, a safe, a filing cabinet, a desk drawer, a safe deposit box.
Bank statements and check registers: a regular payment to a life insurance company usually means a policy.
Old mail, tax documents from an insurer, and email searches for "policy", "premium" or "beneficiary".
Their address book or phone contacts, for an insurance agent or financial adviser. Their agent can often tell you quickly what they had.

Could they have had life insurance through work?

Many people have group life insurance through an employer, a union or an association. Call the employee benefits office at each former employer, or the union, and ask whether the person had coverage. Ask about retirement plan paperwork at the same time.

How does the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator work?

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free online tool to help people find a deceased loved one's life insurance policies and annuity contracts. You enter the person's Social Security number or ITIN, legal first and last name, date of birth, date of death and veteran status, plus your relationship to them and your own name, mailing address and email. Participating companies search their records. If a company finds a policy and you are the beneficiary, it contacts you directly. If no policy is found, or you are not the beneficiary, you will not be contacted. The NAIC itself holds no policy or beneficiary information. Source: NAIC. Use the locator at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator.

Companies take part voluntarily, so keep going with the other steps even if nobody replies.

Can life insurance end up as unclaimed property?

Yes. Unclaimed life insurance benefits can be turned over to the state. In Texas, search ClaimItTexas.gov, the Comptroller's official site, and repeat in any state where the person lived. See our guide on finding a deceased person's unclaimed money in Texas*.

How do you make the claim once you find the policy?

Contact the insurer. Expect to provide a certified death certificate and a claim form, and the person filing must be the named beneficiary or show their legal authority. Keep notes on every call: date, name, reference number. If the claim gets complicated (a disputed beneficiary, or no beneficiary named), a licensed attorney can help. For problems with an insurance company in Texas, the Texas Department of Insurance Help Line is 800-252-3439.

What should you have ready?

Several certified copies of the death certificate (how to get one in Texas*).
Their Social Security number or ITIN, date of birth and date of death.
Your photo ID and proof of your relationship.

What are the most common mistakes?

Waiting for the insurer to call. Insurers don't always learn that a policyholder died, so the family should ask.
Stopping after one search. Try the locator, unclaimed property and every former employer.
Paying a "finder" a percentage for searches you can do yourself for free.
Entering a Social Security number anywhere other than the official NAIC locator or a state government site.

The best time to leave a clear trail is now

Every step above exists because the policy was not written down anywhere the family could find. In FamiliaLista you list each policy: company, type, agent, where the paperwork is and who the beneficiary is. Your agent and your family then know exactly where to start. See what happens to my accounts if I die and the life insurance basics guide.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator free?

Yes. The NAIC describes it as a free online tool for finding a deceased loved one's life insurance policies and annuities.

How long until I hear back from the NAIC locator?

The NAIC's current article gives no timeline, and an older NAIC FAQ said it may take up to 90 business days. You only hear back if a policy is found and you are the beneficiary.

What if the policy locator finds nothing?

Insurers take part voluntarily, so no reply does not prove there was no policy. Keep checking their paperwork, former employers and state unclaimed property.

Can I claim a life insurance policy if I am not the beneficiary?

Only the named beneficiary, or someone with legal authority over the estate, can claim. A licensed attorney can help if it is unclear.

Is this legal advice?

No. It is general information. For a claim or an estate question, talk to a licensed attorney.

Sources

General information, not legal or financial advice. Rules change; check the official sources above or talk to a licensed professional about your situation.