Losing a loved one is never easy. The first few months following a death can often be an unpleasant combination of navigating grief and figuring out financial logistics — and it can feel all the more intense if it’s a parent who’s passed away.
In the midst of planning services, you might find yourself wondering how to find life insurance policies of a deceased parent.When someone with life insurance dies, a life insurance claim can be submitted so that beneficiaries may receive the policy proceeds, also known as a death benefit.
How to Find Out if Someone Has Life Insurance?
Ideally, when a person names you as beneficiary on their life insurance policy, they would share the news with you and let you know where to find a copy of their policy should they pass away. Unfortunately, this critical step occasionally gets skipped and there are millions of dollars in life insurance benefits that go unclaimed each year.
How Do You Find Out if a Deceased Person Had Life Insurance?
When someone you love passes away, you might consider conducting a life insurance policy search. There are a few different methods you can choose from to find a deceased person’s life insurance policy (if it exists).
Use a Life Insurance Policy Locator Tool
If you are looking for a lost life insurance policy, you are not alone. There are several organizations and tools dedicated to helping people locate lost life insurance policies.
Here are a few free resources* to help with your life insurance policy locator journey:
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners: The NAIC is a regulatory organization governed by the nation’s chief insurance regulators — one from each state, one from the District of Columbia, and one representative each from five U.S. territories. When you submit a request using the NAIC Life Policy Locator tool, they will reach out to all participating companies in their network on your behalf and ask them to search their records.
- Your State’s Department of Insurance: Every state has its own department of insurance. Their job is to regulate insurance and ensure consumers like you are protected. Some states, like North Carolina, allow people who think they might be beneficiaries to submit online inquiry forms.
- National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators: The NAUPA search tool lets people search for unclaimed life insurance money. Interestingly enough, NAUPA states that one in ten people have unclaimed property waiting for them, so it might be worth looking into.
*This list is not an endorsement. Bestow is not associated or affiliated with NAIC, NAUPA, or any state departments.
Speak With Your Parent’s Financial Advisor
If you are searching for information on how to find a deceased person’s life insurance policy, you might want to start with the financial advisors they worked with. If your parents were in regular contact with a lawyer, accountant, or banker, reach out to their offices and let them know you are trying to locate your parent’s life insurance policy. They might be able to help.
Talk to Your Parent’s Employer
Some employers offer life insurance as a benefit to employees. If your mother or father passed away, contact their employer’s HR department and inquire about your parent’s policy proceeds.
Consider Credit Unions, Insurance Agents, and Roadside Assistance Providers
If your parents were members of a credit union or had a roadside assistance membership, they might have a life insurance policy. Some of these organizations offer members life insurance incentives. Another source to consider is your parent's auto or home insurance providers. Some companies offer bundles and they have, at one point or another, added a life insurance policy.
Search for a Physical Copy of Your Parent’s Life Insurance Policy
As you go through your parent's personal items, keep an eye out for a physical copy of their life insurance policy. Likewise, if you have access to their computer, you can comb through digital files to look for clues about a lost insurance policy. This could include bank statements with charges from a life insurance company, document folders, or email correspondence.
Preventing Lost Life Insurance Policy
Grieving the loss of a parent or someone you love is tough. The last thing you want to do while you are processing is go through the stress of searching for a lost insurance policy. When you buy a life insurance policy, one of the first things you should do is let your beneficiaries know that you named them to your policy and where to find your insurance information should you pass away. Likewise, it’s a good idea to sit down with your parents (and any other close relative) and make sure they have done the same for their primary beneficiary.
Apply Online for Term Life Insurance
If you’re thinking about purchasing life insurance, Bestow offers a 100% online term life insurance with a simple application process. From the initial instant free quote and filling out the straightforward application to accessing policy documents and chatting with an expert insurance agent whenever you have questions — everything is at your fingertips.
With most receiving same-day decisions, you could apply for life insurance and, if approved, have digital copies of your policy all within one day. And if you prefer a paper copy of your term life insurance policy, you can easily request one be delivered in the mail.
Not insured yet? Learn more about term life insurance or get a free quote to see just how affordable it can be. Rates start from just $11 per month with Bestow and, upon approval, you can purchase coverage for up to thirty years.
Key Takeaways
- If you are a beneficiary on a life insurance policy, be sure to ask the policyholder where you can find their policy if anything should happen to them.
- There are resources available to those who are searching for a lost insurance policy. Use free search tools, reach out to the potential policyholder’s financial advisors, and look for both physical and digital insurance documents.
- Plan ahead — consider taking a screenshot and printing your policy. You can typically request a paper copy by mail as well.
