How to Find a Life Insurance Policy
If you are searching for a deceased loved one's policy or annuity, start with the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and the person's records. Do not pay an unknown service before using official resources.
Search records
Review mail, email, bank statements, tax records, employer benefits, safe-deposit information, and known advisers.
Use the official locator
Submit the deceased person's information through the NAIC service if you are eligible.
Check state resources
Use the state regulator and unclaimed-property office for additional official paths.
Information the NAIC process may request
- Your name, mailing address, and email.
- The deceased person's legal name.
- Date of birth and date of death.
- Social Security number or qualifying tax identifier.
- Relationship to the deceased and veteran status.
How results work
Participating insurers search their records. If a policy is found and you are the beneficiary or authorized representative, the insurer may contact you directly. The NAIC states that no contact is sent when no match is found or you are not the beneficiary.
Use the official instructions
The locator is free. Submit sensitive information only through the official service.
What a state department can—and cannot—do
A state insurance department can help identify the correct regulator, verify companies, explain complaint channels, and point to locator resources. It usually does not maintain a public record of every individual life insurance policy.
Start with records, then use free locator services
Collect identifiers
Record the insured person's legal name, former names, date of birth, Social Security number if you are authorized to use it, past addresses, employers, and approximate coverage dates.
Check direct evidence
Review bank statements for premium payments, mail and email, tax records, safe-deposit records, employer benefits, and contact information for agents or financial professionals.
Use official channels
Submit an authorized request through the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and check state unclaimed-property systems. Insurers respond when their records produce a match.
If the insured person has died
- Obtain a certified death certificate and documents showing your authority to act.
- Contact known employers about group or voluntary life coverage.
- Search bank and card statements for insurer or premium processor names.
- Use the NAIC locator; do not expect the state department to maintain a public list of every policy.
- Check official unclaimed-property databases, including states where the person previously lived.
If the insured person is living
- Ask the person to check online insurer accounts, payroll deductions, and policy documents.
- Contact the agent or insurer using a phone number independently obtained from the official company site.
- Request duplicate policy information only through an authenticated channel.
- Do not submit another person's sensitive information without authority.
What a locator result does—and does not—prove
A match can identify an insurer that may have relevant records. It does not prove the policy was active on the date of death, identify the current beneficiary, or guarantee a payment. The insurer must verify the contract, premiums, insured status, claimant identity, and policy provisions.
If a company changed names or merged, start with the current state insurance department and the insurer's official corporate contact information rather than a paid search advertisement.
Avoid policy-locator scams
The NAIC locator is free. Be cautious with anyone demanding payment, gift cards, bank credentials, or a fee to “release” benefits. Verify the insurer's contact details independently before sending identity documents.
Official starting points
- NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator.
- National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators for links to official state programs.
- NAIC state insurance department directory.