How do you find out if someone had a life insurance policy before they died?

Check with the state's unclaimed property office. -If a life insurance company knows that an insured client has died but can't find the beneficiary, the death benefit would have to be escheated to the state of last known address of owner or to the state in which the policy was bought as "unclaimed property."

The National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (unclaimed.org) - NAUPA is the association of the state unclaimed property programs, but the databases are located and maintained by each state, not NAUPA. However, most states participate in MissingMoney and we suggest that you search there

MissingMoney.com is a database of governmental unclaimed property records.
Common types of unclaimed property include: Bank accounts and safe deposit box contents, Stocks, mutual funds, bonds, and dividends, Uncashed checks and wages, Insurance policies, CD's, trust funds,Utility deposits, escrow accounts

Check among all their important documents, the safety deposit box, call any and all agents or companies they may have done business with for auto and home insurance, investments, retirement planning, etc. Call the lawyer, the accountant etc.

Here's are some tips:

Policylocator.com or mib.com for $75.00 They have a large database of insurance applicants available to the public and the cost is relatively cheap considering the value of what they might uncover. You will need to provide a death certificate and a notarized application - probably a good thing from a privacy perspective.

If that doesn't work try:

If the house and car were insured, start with the local agents who sold those policies. Insurance companies usually keep track of customer names and Social Security numbers.

If the policy was active, a premium notice eventually will come in the mail. Look for canceled insurance checks.

Private firms specialize in finding lost life insurance for a fee. Search the Internet for "Life Benefits Search" or "Lost Life Insurance Finder."

It Happens Every Day

Life insurance is often purchased to protect against loss of income, but policyholders commonly fail to inform the beneficiary(s) of the policy's existence. As a result, many policies go unclaimed based on long dormancy periods or lack of awareness. Insurance companies would like to distribute what is rightfully due, but the responsibility to claim benefits lies with the survivors. It is estimated that over $1 billion of insurance proceeds currently could be claimed by beneficiaries from North American insurance companies..

Check the bank account statements for regular with drawls... it may be a few years back for 20 year pay policies. Do follow up from there. Check with family friends, sometime the owner might have discussed it with them.

Call the suspect companies and ask.

if you have the persons info and know what company he may have been insured with, you can call the insurance company claims department and ask. They will only tell you if he was insured and nothing more without evidence that you are privy to that info. Also, call his insurance agent and ask.

Answer

You are gonna have to find the papers because the company will want the policy number. You will also have to send a death certificate somewhere to collect.

Answer

You will need to contact the insurance commissioner's office in the state she resided when she took the policy.

First answer by 4lifeguild. Last edit by Sdresh. Contributor trust: 363 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 533 [recommend question]