Official Life Insurance Sources
Use primary sources to verify licensing, policy language, consumer rights, tax questions, securities products, and missing-policy searches.
| Question | Start here | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| Is an insurer or producer licensed? | NAIC state insurance department directory | Find the official regulator, licensing tools, and complaint contacts. |
| Could a deceased relative have a missing policy? | NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator instructions | Understand who may submit a request, required information, and what happens next. |
| How are life insurance proceeds treated federally? | IRS Publication 525 | Federal income-tax treatment of death proceeds, installments, interest, surrender, and accelerated benefits; individual circumstances can differ. |
| Is a variable policy also a securities product? | Investor.gov variable life overview | Investment risk, fees, prospectus, and securities considerations. |
| What does my policy actually provide? | Your issued contract and application copy | Definitions, guarantees, exclusions, riders, benefit amounts, and effective dates. |
Policy locator privacy
A locator request can require sensitive information about a deceased person. Submit it only through the official service or a state regulator—not through Life Quote Atlas or an unknown lead form.
State regulator directory
Each state guide links directly to its official insurance regulator. The regulator can help with licensing, company identity, consumer complaints, and state-specific materials; it usually does not hold a searchable record of every individual's private policy.
Choose a state