How to Find Life Insurance Policies of a Deceased Person
Millions of dollars in life insurance go unclaimed every year because beneficiaries don't know policies exist. Here's how to find them.
Life insurance is sometimes the most valuable financial asset a deceased person leaves behind — but only if it's found. Many life insurance policies go unclaimed because beneficiaries don't know they exist. This guide walks through every method for locating life insurance policies of a deceased person.
Why Policies Go Undiscovered
Life insurance goes unclaimed more often than most people realize. Common reasons:
- The policyholder didn't tell anyone about the policy
- The policy paperwork was lost or misplaced
- Beneficiaries didn't know they needed to claim it
- Old policies from decades ago were forgotten
- Group life insurance through an employer was overlooked
Billions of dollars in unclaimed life insurance benefits exist in the US. If someone died without obvious documentation of their policies, a thorough search is worth doing.
The Most Common Places to Find Policies
Physical documents at home
Check the deceased's files, filing cabinets, home safe, and safe deposit box. Life insurance policies are large formal documents — often in an envelope or folder. Also look for:
- Premium payment receipts or billing statements
- Correspondence from insurance companies (letters, annual statements)
- Insurance company checkbooks or deposit books (older automatic payment methods)
Bank statements
Review 1–2 years of bank statements and credit card statements for recurring payments to insurance companies. Premium payments are typically regular (monthly or annual) and often identifiable by company name in the transaction description.
Email inbox
Search for "life insurance," "premium payment," "policy," "beneficiary," "coverage." Many insurers send digital statements and renewal notices.
Tax returns
Life insurance premiums are generally not tax-deductible (and thus don't appear on tax returns), but company-paid premiums over $50,000 are reported on W-2s. Check for this — it indicates employer-provided life insurance.
Safe deposit box
People commonly store life insurance policies in safe deposit boxes. Contact the bank with a death certificate to inquire about any safe deposit box and follow state procedures for access.
Employer-Provided Group Life Insurance
Many employers offer group life insurance as a benefit — sometimes 1–3x annual salary. Contact the HR department of any employer the deceased had within the last several years. Even recent or short-term employment may have provided some coverage. Ask specifically about:
- Group term life insurance
- Supplemental life insurance
- Accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D) coverage
- Continuation coverage (some group policies allow conversion or continuation after employment ends)
Professional and Association Memberships
Many professional associations, alumni organizations, veterans organizations (AMVETS, VFW, American Legion), credit unions, and affinity groups offer group life insurance to members. Check any membership cards, correspondence, or dues payments for relevant organizations.
Credit Life Insurance
Some mortgages and loans include credit life insurance that pays off the loan balance at death. Review the original loan documents for any mention of "credit life" or "decreasing term" insurance. Alternatively, contact the lender and ask.
NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator
The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) operates a free Life Insurance Policy Locator service at eapps.naic.org/life-policy-locator/. You submit a request with the deceased's information (name, SSN, date of birth, date of death), and insurance companies that are NAIC members will search their records and contact you if they find a matching policy. Allow 90 days for responses.
State Insurance Department
Most state insurance departments have their own policy search programs or can refer you to resources. Find your state's insurance department at naic.org or search "[state] department of insurance life insurance policy search."
MIB (Medical Information Bureau)
The MIB Group maintains records of life insurance applications (not policies — applications). If the deceased applied for individual life insurance in the past 7 years, MIB may have a record of the application, which can help identify insurers to contact. Request the deceased person's MIB record through their estate — see mib.com for their process. There is typically a fee.
State Unclaimed Property Databases
If life insurance proceeds were never claimed, they may eventually be escheated (transferred) to the state as unclaimed property. Search your state's unclaimed property database — most are searchable online at missingmoney.com or through your state treasurer's website. Search the deceased's name and the names of all beneficiaries.
For the complete document-finding guide, see our searching for documents guide. For filing a life insurance claim once you've found a policy, see our article on how to file a life insurance claim.
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