How do I find a life insurance policy after someone dies?

Use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) runs a free online Life Insurance Policy Locator. You enter information from the death certificate, and participating life insurance and annuity companies compare it with their records.

You'll need:

• The deceased person's Social Security number or individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
• Their legal first and last name
• Their date of birth and date of death
• Your own name, mailing address, email, and relationship to the person

What to expect:

• It's free. You don't need to pay anyone to submit a request.
• It can take a while. The NAIC says searches may take 90 business days or more.
• You only hear back if there's a match for you. If a policy is found and you're the beneficiary, the insurance company contacts you directly. If no policy is found, or you aren't the beneficiary, you won't be contacted.
• The NAIC doesn't hold policy information. It passes requests to insurers; questions about a specific policy go to the insurer.

Since it launched in November 2016, the locator has matched more than $16.9 billion in benefits through July 31, 2026, according to the NAIC.

Search their papers and accounts

Many policies turn up in everyday records:

• Bank and credit card statements showing payments to an insurance company
• Mail and email from insurers, including annual statements and premium notices
• Tax records and files kept with other financial papers
• Employer or union benefits, since many people have group life insurance through work
• Their insurance agent, financial advisor, lawyer, or accountant
• Safe deposit boxes and home filing cabinets

If you find a policy, call the insurer's claims department. You'll usually need a certified copy of the death certificate and a claim form.

Check unclaimed property

When an insurer can't find a beneficiary, life insurance benefits can eventually be turned over to a state's unclaimed property program. Search for the person's name, and your own, in every state where they lived. MissingMoney.com, managed by the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators, lets you search most states at once for free.

Paid search services

Some private services, such as MIB's Policy Locator Service, search for a fee. Try the free options first. Be cautious of anyone who contacts you offering to find money for a large share of it.

If you need help

Your state insurance department can answer questions about a life insurance company or a claim that isn't being paid. If the estate is complicated or there's a dispute over who the beneficiary is, consider talking with an estate attorney.