Jeffrey Wade
If you believe a deceased loved one may have had a life insurance policy and that you could be a beneficiary, there are several steps you can take to find out. Firstly, speak to other family members and friends of the deceased—they may know something about the policy or have information about where it might be stored. Secondly, look through the deceased's personal belongings, papers, files, and digital documents for any records of the policy or clues that might lead you to it. Thirdly, contact the deceased's insurance company, if known, and provide them with the necessary information to help locate the policy. Fourthly, reach out to the deceased's accountants, attorneys, or financial professionals, who may have information about the policy. Finally, use a life insurance policy locator service such as those offered by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, MIB Group, and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators. It's important to note that only certain individuals, such as next of kin, estate executors, and policy beneficiaries, are typically granted access to life insurance policy information due to strict privacy laws.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First steps to find out if you are left life insurance | Talk to friends, family members, and acquaintances |
| Search personal belongings | |
| Check old bills and mail | |
| Contact employers and member organizations | |
| Do an online search | |
| Call your state insurance commissioner's office | |
| Who can request information about a life insurance policy? | Next of kin and policy beneficiaries |
| What information is needed to make a claim? | Deceased's full name, including maiden name |
| Social Security Number (SSN) | |
| Proof of your relation and/or identity | |
| What happens to the death benefits if no one claims the money? | Insurance companies turn over unclaimed death benefits to the state's unclaimed property office |
| Can you be the beneficiary of a life insurance policy and not know it? | Yes |
What You'll Learn
Talk to family and friends
Talking to family and friends can be a good way to find out if you are a beneficiary of a loved one's life insurance policy. This is because, in many cases, beneficiaries are aware of their status as the policyholder would have informed them ahead of time. Therefore, if you are a close friend or family member, the policyholder may have told you about their plans.
If the policyholder has passed away, you can ask other members of the family if they know about any existing life insurance policies. This is because sometimes, it is easier to talk to people outside of the immediate family about topics related to death and dying. As a result, your loved one may have confided in friends, spiritual leaders, doctors, or members of social groups about their plans.
If you are the one with a life insurance policy, it is important to have a conversation with your loved ones about your coverage. This will ensure that your family can quickly locate the necessary documents in the event of your death.
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Contact insurance companies
If you are the executor of the will or the administrator of an intestate estate, you can gain access to the deceased's bank account statements. Check through these to see if any regular payments are going out, as this could flag up a monthly premium payment for life insurance. While this won't give you the policy number, it might tell you which insurance company is providing the cover. Contact them directly and explain the situation – they will be able to help.
You might also come across a letter from the life insurance company or some policy documentation. People tend to keep important documents together, so if you find bank details or a passport in a certain location, it’s worth investigating further.
Many employers, especially in the public sector, provide Death in Service policies. While these are typically less extensive than full life insurance policies, they will still pay out to the right beneficiaries and should be claimed. The deceased’s employer will have full details of this and any pension owed.
With the correct authorisation given to you through the grant of probate (or letters of administration), you can spend time contacting insurers generally and asking if they have a policy for the deceased. Depending on the company, the service you receive may vary, but most life insurance companies in the UK are extremely helpful.
If all else fails, you can try the Unclaimed Assets Register (UAR). For a £25 fee, you can apply to the UAR to discover if there are any financial records for the deceased that have gone untouched.
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Review documents
Reviewing documents is a crucial step in finding out if you are a beneficiary of a life insurance policy. Here are some detailed instructions on what to do:
- Review the deceased's personal documents and belongings: Check paperwork, files, and personal belongings in their home and business premises. Look for the policy itself or any clues that might lead you to it, such as notifications from insurance companies, premium payment receipts, or insurance company business cards.
- Examine their digital records: In addition to physical documents, review their computer and mobile phone for any relevant information. Check their email for policy-related correspondence and their contact list for insurance company details.
- Inspect financial records: Review bank statements and cancelled cheques for payments to life insurance companies. Also, examine tax returns for any indication of interest income from life insurance policies.
- Monitor their mail: Keep an eye on incoming mail and emails for policy-related correspondence such as premium alerts, dividend notices, or servicing updates.
- Check storage spaces: Explore various storage areas, including filing cabinets, desk drawers, and safes. If the deceased had access to a safe deposit box, check with the bank to gain access, as this often requires specific documentation and procedures.
- Review address books and planners: These may contain valuable contacts, such as insurance agents or financial advisors, who can provide information about the policy.
By thoroughly reviewing these documents and following the additional steps outlined in the sources, you can increase your chances of finding out if you are a beneficiary of a life insurance policy.
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Use a life insurance policy locator
If you're struggling to find a loved one's life insurance policy, you can use a life insurance policy locator. The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) provides a Life Insurance Policy Locator Service, which is a free online tool that helps consumers find their deceased loved one's life insurance policies and annuity contracts.
- In your web browser, go to naic.org. Hover over 'Consumer' and click 'Life Insurance Policy Locator' under 'Tools'.
- Create an account by entering your email address and name.
- Log in and agree to the process.
- Enter your name and address.
- Submit a search request by entering the deceased's information from their death certificate, including their:
- Social security number
- Legal first and last name, and any former names
- Date of birth and date of death
- Once you have filled in all the required fields, click 'Submit'.
- Your request will be stored in a secure, encrypted database that participating life insurance and annuity companies can access through a secure portal.
- You will receive a confirmation email with 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.
- You will not be contacted if no policy is found or you are not the beneficiary.
Please note that before using this service, you are required to conduct a diligent search of the deceased person's records. This includes looking through their physical and digital documents, such as their address book, personal phone directory, bank statements, and check registers for any information related to a life insurance company.
In addition to the NAIC's tool, other organisations also provide similar life insurance policy locator services, such as the MIB Group and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators.
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Contact the deceased's advisors
If you are unable to find the insurance agent of the deceased, you can try reaching out to their accountants, attorneys, or financial professionals to get the information you need. Business cards or documents containing the contact information of these professionals may be found among the deceased's personal belongings.
Financial advisors, insurance agents, accountants, and personal lawyers are often aware of a person's insurance policy. If you are unable to find any of these professionals, you can check with spiritual advisors, friends, and other important people in the deceased's life.
It is also worth checking with the deceased's automotive and home insurers, as people often purchase several different kinds of insurance from the same company. If you are able to find documentation of their car or home insurance, you can ask those companies if the deceased also had a life insurance policy with them.
Additionally, many employers offer group life insurance to their employees, so it is worth checking with the deceased's former employer to see if such a policy exists. Trade unions, veterans' associations, alumni associations, and other types of professional and social organizations also sometimes offer group life insurance to their members.
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Frequently asked questions
If the policyholder is still alive, the easiest way is to talk to them. If not, you can look through their financial documents, contact the insurance company, use a life insurance policy locator, or check with the policyholder's state.
A life insurance policy locator is an online tool that helps potential beneficiaries find lost policies and identify beneficiaries. You can use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator Service by submitting a form with detailed information about the deceased.
You will typically need to provide the deceased's full name, Social Security number, date of birth, date of death, and your relationship to them.
If you think your loved one had a life insurance policy but you can't find it, you can take several steps, including talking to friends and family members, searching their personal belongings and financial records, contacting their employers and member organizations, and doing an online search.
Life insurance companies are not required to notify beneficiaries, and it is possible to be listed as a beneficiary without being informed. It is important to have open conversations with your loved ones about their life insurance coverage to avoid such situations.
