If you are searching for a missing life insurance policy, there are certain steps you can take to help guide you in your search:
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| 1. Speak to people close to the deceased | They may have information about the policy, such as where it may be stored, people named as beneficiaries, or the name of the insurance company. |
| 2. Reach out to the insurance company or agent | If you know the name of the insurance company that issued the policy (or the agent who sold it), you can reach out to them directly to help find the policy you need. |
| 3. Check personal belongings or bank statements | Look through the deceased’s personal belongings, papers, files, safe deposit boxes (if you have access), or any places you think they may have used to store important documents. You can also check bank statements for premium payments or indications that they tapped into the cash value of a whole life policy. |
| 4. Try reaching out to professionals | Reach out to the deceased’s accountants, attorneys, or financial professionals to get the information you need. |
| 5. Use online tools | Organizations such as the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, MIB group, and the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators provide life insurance policy location services. |
It’s important to note that only certain individuals are typically granted access to policy information due to privacy laws:
- Next of kin
- Estate executors
- Named beneficiaries
To prevent lost policies, it is recommended that individuals inform their family members about their policy and keep at least two copies of the policy, in a safe and secure place in their home and another at a different location, like their lawyer’s office. Additionally, it’s important to ensure the insurance company has up-to-date information for contacting beneficiaries.
If you are an interested party with the legal right to access policy information, you can request policy information from the insurance company or use the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ Life Insurance Policy Locator Service to find an unclaimed life insurance policy.
By taking these steps, you can help ensure that you locate missing life insurance policies and receive the benefits you are entitled to.
Burial Insurance
Article Sources
- Funeral Funds. Learn How To Use The Naic Life Insurance Policy Locator
- Cremation Institute. Finding A Life Insurance Policy After Death
- The Charlotte Observer. How To Discover If A Loved One Had A Life Insurance Policy ...
- Minnesota Attorney General's Office. Your Go-To Checklist For Keeping Your Life Insurance Policy Up ...
- Door County Pulse. Are You A Life Insurance Beneficiary? Here'S How To Find Out