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How to Find Out if Someone Has Life Insurance

August 29, 2023
Our goal is to educate and advise on life insurance options, so you can feel confident in making the right choice, whether that’s through Quotacy or somewhere else. To ensure we provide accurate and trustworthy information, our writers follow strict editorial standards.

Navigating through the loss of a loved one is never easy. While battling difficult emotions and responsibilities, understanding the details of the deceased’s life insurance coverage can feel overwhelming.

Life insurance can be a vital tool, not only in managing funeral costs but also in providing financial stability at the time you need it most.

We understand how important it is to find out if there’s a life insurance policy and how to access its benefits.

This guide will help you find out if someone has life insurance.

5 Ways to Locate a Life Insurance Policy

If a loved one has life insurance and passes away, their policy can help those left behind immensely. Perhaps your loved one mentioned having a policy but never specified how to locate it.

Alternatively, they may not have communicated anything about a policy, leaving you uncertain whether one exists. Use the following steps to guide your search.

Check Personal Records & Belongings

The first step is to start looking through your loved one’s documents. You may stumble upon the policy itself or clues to find it. For example, look for notifications from insurance companies or premium payment receipts.

  • Review their bank statements. Look for any recurring payments to a life insurance company.
  • Monitor incoming mail. Watch for policy premium alerts, dividend notices, policy servicing correspondence, or statements—all of which could provide insights about an existing life insurance policy.
  • Inspect storage spaces. Explore various storage areas for any evidence of life insurance, such as the actual policy or receipts of payments. Check filing cabinets, desk drawers, and safes. Did your loved one possess a safety deposit box? Check that too.
  • Browse address books and contact lists. These records may offer valuable clues. They could include the contact information of a life insurance company or agent. Remember to check their mobile phone contact list.
  • Examine tax returns. Review your loved one’s previous income tax returns for any indication of interest income from life insurance policies.

Contact the Deceased’s Financial Advisors

If you don’t find much by going through your loved one’s belongings, the next step is to contact any financial professionals they worked with. These individuals may know if a life insurance policy exists.

Besides financial professionals, reach out to the deceased’s close family members and friends. Your loved one may have discussed life insurance with a trusted confidant. This individual could provide valuable leads to find the insurance provider.

Use a Life Insurance Policy Locator

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) offers a free policy locator tool to help identify lost life insurance policies. To use this service, you’re required to fill out a form that requests detailed information about the deceased, which includes:

  • Full name
  • Date of birth
  • Date of death
  • Social Security Number (SSN)

Once submitted, the tool contacts multiple insurance companies on your behalf to check if your loved one has any policies with them. The insurance company will contact you directly if a policy is located, provided you’re the designated beneficiary or legally authorized to receive such information.

Other online resources that can help your search are missingmoney.com and unclaimed.org. These websites allow users to search for unclaimed assets, including the death benefit from a life insurance policy, which would be listed under the beneficiary’s name.

Apart from conducting a solo search, you could also hire professional services. Companies like MIB and Policy Inspector specialize in tracking lost policies. They will typically contact hundreds of life insurance companies to determine if your loved one had any. Each company has different limitations and rates, so choose wisely.

Be aware that there are scammers out there who will say they want to help you find unclaimed money for an up-front payment and are never heard from again. Do your research before hiring a company.

Contact the Insurance Company

If you know the name of the insurance company that issued the policy (or the agent who sold it), you can contact them directly to help find the policy you need. You’ll likely need to submit proof that you’re a beneficiary, like your driver’s license or SSN and the policyholder’s death certificate.

Contact Your State’s Unclaimed Property Office

Unclaimed life insurance proceeds are often transferred to the state’s unclaimed property office if the insurance company cannot contact beneficiaries.

To use this service, search your state’s unclaimed property office online. You’ll need to complete an online form on their website, supplying details such as the deceased person’s full name and your relationship with them.

If the search yields positive results, the office will provide you with instructions to claim the assets. You’ll likely need proof of your identity and legal right to claim the assets, such as a death certificate and proof of your relationship to the deceased.

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Who Can Access Life Insurance Policy Information?

Life insurance companies are very strict about privacy and confidentiality. You can’t just call in asking about people’s insurance policies, even if you’re related to the person.

Insurance companies will typically only release information to:

  • Next of kin (such as a deceased spouse or child)
  • Designated beneficiaries on the policy
  • Estate executors and trustees overseeing the deceased’s estate

How to Claim Life Insurance Proceeds

Once you find a life insurance policy and learn you’re a beneficiary, filing a claim for the proceeds is a straightforward process.

  1. Prepare Documents: Collect a certified copy of the death certificate, the completed claim form, and the insurance policy information.
  2. Notify the Insurance Company: Reach out to the insurance company to report the policyholder’s passing.
  3. Await Claim Review: Life insurance companies typically have up to 30 days to review a claim, but most complete the process within a week or two.
  4. Receiving the Benefit: The insurer will mail a check in a lump-sum payment unless you specify otherwise.

Learn more about clauses and exclusions in life insurance policies that may impact death benefit claims. 

FAQs About How to Find a Life Insurance Policy

Have more questions about life insurance policies and claims? Here we briefly answer some commonly asked questions.

Will the Insurance Company Contact Me if I’m a Beneficiary?

In most cases, no. Insurance companies don’t automatically know when their clients die. It’s up to the policy beneficiary to contact the insurance company to file a claim when someone dies.

How Do I Find Out if I’m a Beneficiary?

Searching through a loved one’s belongings to determine if they had a life insurance policy can be emotionally challenging for beneficiaries.

If you’re confident that a life insurance policy exists and you may be a named beneficiary, there are ways to verify your status. The most effective approach is directly contacting the insurer.

If you’re not sure what life insurance company holds the policy, you can submit a request to search the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) database.

What Happens to Life Insurance Money if No One Claims It?

Life insurance companies typically turn over unclaimed death benefits to the state after a certain period of inactivity or unsuccessful attempts to contact beneficiaries. This period varies by state, but it generally ranges from 3 to 5 years.

Even then, beneficiaries can still file a claim for the money through the state’s unclaimed property program. There is no time limit on when a beneficiary can claim the benefits.

Get Unbiased Life Insurance Advice from Quotacy’s Experts

It’s unfortunate how many life insurance benefits go unclaimed. Although life insurance isn’t exactly a fun topic of conversation, it’s an extremely important one. If you have life insurance, talk to your family about it.

Haven’t secured a life insurance policy for your family yet? It’s never been simpler.

Get online life insurance quotes instantly without even giving away any contact information. Comparison shop products and pricing from top-rated carriers in peace.

When you’re ready to apply, the online application only takes a few minutes. Once submitted, you’re paired with a dedicated Quotacy agent prepared to answer your questions, walk you through the process, and advocate for you. Don’t wait. Get a quote today.

Unsure how much life insurance you need? Try our life insurance calculator.

Watch the How to Find a Life Insurance Policy Video

59 Comments

  1. Lee Knibbs

    I have no life insurance how do I make sure that no one else has takien out a policy for my life cause I don’t have one

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Lee, in order for someone to buy life insurance on someone else, they would need a lot of private information such as your Social Security number and knowledge of your medical history. You would also have to sign paperwork, conduct a phone interview with the insurance company, and, often, participate in a life insurance medical exam. It’s very unlikely someone took out life insurance on you without your knowledge. However, to assuage your feelings of worry, you can request your Medical Information Bureau file which would let you know if your name has come up in any life insurance underwriter’s reports within the last 7 years.

      Reply
      • Darrell

        My mom had a life insurance policy on me. She passed away in 2018. Will states everything goes to my dad. He was not able to get policy changed to his name. He stopped paying for it. He passed away 2021. I didn’t know about the policy. After I found out about it I tried to change ownership of the policy to my name. Over a year I have been trying. I keep getting the runaround like my father got. It’s a whole life and losing value every day.

        Reply
  2. Mags Wilson

    Hi my ex husband and myself took out life insurance policies when buying a house together around 30 years ago I can’t remember which company it was with is there anyway I can find out and give them my up to date information so I am still covered, thank you

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Mags, does your ex-husband not remember either? I recommend searching through your online bank statements to see if there is an insurance company that regularly pulls money for premium payments. If this isn’t an option for you, you can file a report through the MIB’s Policy Locator Service.

      Reply
    • Kimberly Guinn

      Hi my name is Kimberly Guinn an i was told that my family took life insurance out on me an its true because I’ve been finding brochures all over my house..how do i know for sure i wrote some stuff down from your video please help i think someone in my family forged my name

      Reply
  3. Daryl sickafoose

    Husband passed away I’m looking for any life insurance

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your husband. Look through paperwork and mail for any sign of life insurance documents. If you see papers with the name of an insurance company, call them and they can assist you. If you have no paperwork to look through, try the websites the NAIC.com, missingmoney.com and unclaimed.org and search both your name and your husband’s.

      Reply
      • Adrian

        Hay I know that someone stole my grandmother’s life insurance policy that was mine and how do I prove it and get it back.I sware to God.

        Reply
        • Natasha Cornelius, CLU

          Adrian, I’m not sure what you mean. The insurance companies won’t pay the death benefit to anyone except the beneficiary named on the policy. If your grandmother named you the beneficiary of the policy, only you have the right to make a claim.

          Reply
    • Valentino Henry

      I’m looking for any policies that my mom might have open she passed away the 30 th of December 2020 and I found papers saying she received money from her father but she didn’t mention anything things are really weird please can you help me find out

      Reply
      • Natasha Cornelius

        Valentino, I’m sorry to hear your recently lost your mom. Websites such as the NAIC, missingmoney.com and unclaimed.org can help you determine if there was a policy. Search both your name and your mom’s.

        Reply
  4. Sergio Geribon

    Natasha good afternoon My father died in April 2017 an uncle tells me that there is a policy in my name that my father left but I have no company information .. How can I do to start the process

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Sergio, try the websites the NAIC.com, missingmoney.com and unclaimed.org and search both your name and your father’s.

      Reply
  5. Mannat Sharma

    I”m 29 and i want to buy life insurance. which type of life insurance i should buy.
    Thanks in advance.

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Mannat, the type of life insurance you buy is dependent on your individual needs. For most people, a level term life insurance policy is the best choice. Our Term vs Whole Life Insurance page may be helpful to you when making a decision. You can also contact Quotacy directly to speak with an advisor if you’d prefer.

      Reply
  6. Teta

    Hi Natasha! When I was 18, I sign a life insurance. As naive as I was I signed my life away without asking any questions. I was not told anything about it. All I was told was it is good for you. Now I have a strong feeling that my aunt is after my life for life insurance money. I told her constantly to take me off, but she ignores me when I confront her about it. I don’t know the company she put me on because if I did I would have removed myself with no hesitation. How can I find out what company she has me on to take me from it because she does not want to tell me about it.

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Teta,

      I’m sorry about the stresses you’re going through. If you do believe your aunt may attempt to harm you, please contact your local authorities. Otherwise, I recommend you contact your state’s insurance commissioner and ask for assistance. You can find their contact information here: National Association of Insurance Commissioners state map.

      Reply
    • Melissa Jean Smith

      Hello, Due to some unusual circumstances. I had came to assumption that my husband has possibly gotten life insurance under my name. I believe he may have it in a nother state. The police aren’t taking me serious. I did Mib report nothing there but what else can I do so I can prove myself right or hopefully wrong. Thanks

      Reply
      • Natasha Cornelius

        Melissa, your husband needs your consent to buy life insurance on you. Your consent is in the form of signatures and a phone interview. You’d likely need to go through a medical exam as well. If the MIB didn’t have anything in their report, you can likely rest easy. Read more here: Can Someone Buy Life Insurance on Me Without My Consent? That blog also discusses more actions you can take if you wish.

        Reply
  7. Dorriann

    I’m concerned that my son who lives in Colorado and just got married his wife works at a Inc company doing life insurance policies took a large policy out on my son how do I go about finding out

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Dorriann, your son would need to give consent to the life insurance policy. For a large life insurance policy, he likely would also need to get a medical exam done.

      Reply
  8. Carol

    My grand daughters father was murdered. My granddaughter is 2 years old. Her father had 90,000 in life insurance. I know he had his mother on the life insurance. After his daughter was born he said he made his daughter the beneficiary. Life insurance was thru his employer. They won’t discuss who is the beneficiary is. Said paperwork mailed to next of kin. It is possible they both can be on it. His mother will never disclose if our granddaughter is listed and will spend the money on her self. The employer won’t discuss it because she is 2 years old. How can I find out. I need to protect my granddaughter

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Carol, I’m sorry to hear your granddaughter lost her father. For the benefit of your granddaughter, it would be best if you reached out to her other grandmother in an attempt to sort this out. Losing a parent is hard and she’ll need her grandparents. Other than this route, there really isn’t a direct way for you to find out more about the life insurance policy.

      Also, know that life insurance companies won’t pay death benefit money directly to a minor child. If the father created a trust for his daughter and named the trust the life insurance beneficiary or if he utilized a custodial account (a.k.a. an UTMA account), then the named trustee will manage the life insurance money. If his mother is not the trustee, she won’t have access to it.

      However, if the father did name his two-year-old daughter the direct beneficiary of his policy, the court system will get involved. They will appoint a guardian to handle the money until your granddaughter is a legal adult. This process is costly and can take a long time. You can file a petition for guardianship appointment on your granddaughter’s behalf. Consult an attorney if you think you’ll need legal assistance.

      Reply
      • Donna Gallagher

        Hi I was divorced in 2010 my ex-husband who killed himself couple months later I was entitled to alimony and had a life insurance policy to cover it if anything happened told me that he didn’t pay it so there was no life insurance policy they won’t talk to me how do I know if it was really closed or there was no policy and know somebody else got the money it’s a way for me to find out it was in my divorce agreement but I don’t know who the company was

        Reply
        • Natasha Cornelius

          Donna, I’d recommend starting with the Policy Locator tool at the NAIC website here: https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/. If nothing comes up, there are also policy locator services you can hire such as the MIB here: https://www.mib.com/pls.html. You may also want to reach out to the divorce lawyer you used for assistance.

          Reply
  9. Genevieve

    My Dad just passed I’m 100% sure in my gut that he was murdered by his ex it’s a long story…they were married but divorced in 07 she lied and said she was his wife to many lies to count we requested an Autopsy but we need to find the life insurance policy she took out on him while they were divorced I know it exists I just don’t know where to start I read your article maybe you can help?!

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Genevieve,

      I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s death. If his ex-wife owns a life insurance policy on him, she does have the right to do what she wants with it even if they were divorced; however, you need to contact your local authorities to bring them your concerns about his death. In the event of homicide, the death would be investigated and the life insurance company will not pay benefits to a murderer, even if this person was the policy’s beneficiary.

      Reply
  10. laura querry

    Hi my grandparents took out insurance policies on me and 2 brothers when we were kids my grandfather just cashed mine in and gave the money to my uncle I was curious as to whether he can do that legally or if he needed my signature seeing as I am an adult now ?

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Laura, your grandparents were the owners of the policy which means they have control over it. Since your grandparents took out this policy on you and your siblings as children, it was a whole life policy. Policyowners can surrender whole life policies and receive a check for the amount of cash value that had accumulated within the policy. The policyowners do not need the permission of the insureds (you and your siblings) to do this. Your grandfather did nothing illegal. I hope this puts you at ease.

      Reply
  11. Theresa

    My dad passed away Louis colaiacovo July 3rd trying to find out if he had a life insurance policy he was 93 years old from New York

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Theresa,

      I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your dad. I would first advise you to go through all of his mail and paperwork for signs that he had a policy. These could be policy premium notices, customer service letters from the insurance carrier, and even check bank statements to see if there were any regular payments to an insurance company.

      If no luck there, there are policy locator services you can hire. A couple popular companies are MIB and Policy Inspector.

      Your state insurance commissioner’s office may be able to assist you as well. You can find their contact information here: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

      Reply
  12. Chaneen Johnson

    My Father passed away in August2017. I am his only daughter and I inherited his estate. The family was malicious and removed or cleared anything I would need to handle his business. They have stated my Father had No Life Insurance.. I dont believe that.. How can I find out if he had any insurances. All paperwork removedç phone contacts erased and I haven’t received any mail concerning this matter. Help..

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Chaneen,

      I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your father. Have you tried any of the tips in the article above? I’d recommend starting with the Policy Locator tool at the NAIC website here: https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/. If nothing comes up, there are also policy locator services you can hire such as the MIB here: https://www.mib.com/pls.html.

      Reply
      • Antwon Bush

        I think it’s a fake life insurance policy in my Name. What do I do?

        Reply
        • Natasha Cornelius

          Antwon, call the insurance company the policy is through and tell them the situation. They can assist you on steps you can take.

          Reply
  13. Aj yatar

    My father just passed away on Jan 16 2018, before his passing he put his cousin as the beneficiary on his life insurance so that when his time comes my uncle is to claim it an distributed between me and my two siblings. Here’s the thing when he went to claim it the beneficiary name has changed somebody took his name out and now where trying to find who that person is who might of claimed it my question is with me and my two siblings being the inheritance on our dads life insurance,whoever took out my uncles name as the beneficiary can that person also changed me and my siblings name and remove us from it

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Aj,

      I’m sorry to hear about the recent loss of your father.

      Only the policyowner can make changes on the policy, including beneficiary changes. No one else, not even a beneficiary, can change anything about the policy. If your father was the owner of his policy, only he could have made changes.

      My suggestion is to call the insurance company’s claims service department and ask for any information they can give you. Explain the situation to them. They may have some answers for you.

      Reply
  14. Camile mcfarland

    Hello my sister was murdered in Mississippi and her things have been gone though we can find her policy and they want to creammate her tomorrow we need to found her policy asap

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Camile,

      I’m very sorry to hear about the tragic loss your sister.

      The National Association of Insurance Commissioners has a Policy Locator Service that can assist you in locating your sister’s policy here: https://eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/

      Reply
  15. Monica

    My Aunt and her husband have a life insurance policy on my grandmother. They were sneaky about it and she didn’t find out until later. She doesn’t want them to have it and she doesn’t know the name of the insurance company. It’s for $25,000. She has asked for my help, but I don’t know what to do. How can find out which company it is?

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Monica,

      Sometimes individuals are able to utilize the Medical Information Bureau to find this type of information, but most reported policies are of amounts of $100,000 or more. Because the policy on your grandmother is under this amount ($25,000) it’s unlikely that you can find out from this source which life insurance company holds the policy.

      Your grandmother must be the parent of your aunt or her husband, I assume? It’s not illegal for a child to purchase life insurance on their parent. The only thing I can advise is for you (or your grandmother) to talk with your aunt and uncle about the policy. If your grandmother is afraid harm will come to her because of this life insurance policy, then I suggest you speak with the authorities. I’m sorry I don’t have a more definite plan of action for you.

      Reply
  16. Isabelle

    How do i look up if someone who is not deceased have insurance policies with each company

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Isabelle,

      Life insurance policies are not public record. You would not be able to look up who has a life insurance policy and who doesn’t. If you are wondering if a family member has a life insurance policy, I recommend you have a conversation with this person. Thank you for your question.

      Reply
      • Thomas

        My mother just passed & nobody knows if she had a life insurance policy, I with her husband who suffers from Alzheimer’s & he can’t help I don’t know what to do

        Reply
        • Natasha Cornelius

          Hi Thomas,

          I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your mother. I would first advise you to go through all her mail and paperwork for signs that she had a policy. These could be policy premium notices, customer service letters from the insurance carrier, and even check bank statements to see if there were any regular payments to an insurance company.

          If no luck there, there are policy locator services you can hire. A couple popular companies are MIB and Policy Inspector.

          Your state insurance commissioner’s office may be able to assist you as well. You can find their contact information here: the National Association of Insurance Commissioners.

          Reply
  17. Terri

    I am 60 and want to leave something behind for my children when I pass. What type of life insurance is best suited for someone my age?

    Reply
    • Jeremy Hallett

      Terri,

      Since you want to leave something behind for your family when you pass, then you are looking for a permanent life insurance policy. There are a lot of options to choose from and the deciding factors are: How healthy are you? How much would you like to leave? How much premium are you comfortable paying?

      There are simplified guarantee issue policies that are advertised on tv. These are the most expensive policies, but also the easiest to get. Typical face amount is going to be between $5k and $25k. These are thought of as funeral policies and ensure that your family has dollars to help bury you at time of death. If you are facing serious health challenges, these are the only policies available.

      If you are healthy (or mostly healthy), then a fully underwritten policy is a much better value for you. Both whole life insurance and guaranteed universal life have guarantees in place to make sure the insurance company will pay out a death benefit as long as you have been paying your premiums. We see policies like this have face amounts between $100k and tens of millions (these are the life insurance policies wealthy individuals buy.)

      Reply
  18. Stephanie Coc

    How do I fimd out if theres a lufe insurance policy on mr

    Reply
  19. Robert McKim sr.

    How do I find out if I have a up to date life insurance policy?

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Robert,

      I recommend calling the insurance company’s customer service line. They will be able to look up your policy and let you know if it’s still inforce.

      Reply
  20. Michael

    Me and my wife’s are trying to find out if she’s had life insurance but her family refuses to say anything because they don’t like her with me because she refuses to do what they say. How do we find out if she has life insurance?

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Michael,

      If you have an idea of which life insurance company your wife may be insured through, she can call them, explain the situation, and they can help her from there.
      It’s a little more complicated if you do not know which company may be insuring your wife. There are online services your wife can hire that will send out emails and letters to all the life insurance companies on her behalf to see if there is a policy in her name. This can be costly, however. There is a popular Policy Locator Service called MIB you can choose to work with. FYI – It costs $75 and smaller policies ($100K or less) would not be found.

      Reply
  21. Holly

    how do i know if someone had a life insurance policy or if it has been used by another relative

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Holly,

      I would suggest you check out the Life Insurance Policy Locator Service on the National Association of Insurance Commissioner’s website. It’s easy to use and can help answer your questions.

      Reply
  22. Mary Schmidt

    I have a brother who thinks someone bought a life insurance policy on him. How can I find out for free.

    Reply
    • Natasha Cornelius

      Hi Mary,

      There are many steps required when buying life insurance to help prevent fraud. In order to buy a life insurance policy on someone, insurance companies require consent (signatures). Your brother would have likely had to submit to a medical exam as well.

      If your brother thinks fraud was committed, then he can take action. If your brother knows which insurance company sold the policy, he can call and explain to the carrier that he did not consent and they will work with him to have the policy rescinded. This is the main way he can take action for free.

      It’s more complicated if he doesn’t know the insurance company. There are online services your brother can hire that will send out emails and letters to all the life insurance companies on his behalf to see if there is a policy in his name. This can be costly, however. There is a popular Policy Locator Service called MIB you can choose to work with. FYI – It costs $75 and smaller policies ($100K or less) would not be found.

      Reply
    • Stephanie R Bracey

      My aunt took out an insurance policy years ago on me and my mother. We just found out. Now she is trying to make us sign some papers, but we won’t sign.

      Reply

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