How to find the life insurance policies of a deceased parent
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BLUEPRINT
Updated 11:16 a.m. UTC Sep. 21, 2023
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Key points
- A life insurance policy can go unclaimed if the insurer can’t locate the beneficiary.
- You may be able to locate a life insurance policy by searching your parent’s files for policy documentation.
- The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NIAC) offers an online life insurance policy locator that you can use to search for a parent’s policy.
Some parents choose to purchase a life insurance policy to help their spouse and/or children manage expenses after they die. Ideally, they have the opportunity to share this information with you, but that’s not always the case.
Here’s how to find out if your parent had a life insurance policy and whether or not you’re a beneficiary.
Ethos
How do I find the life insurance policy of a deceased parent?
It’s not uncommon for a life insurance policy to go unclaimed. This often happens if:
- The life insurance company does not know the policyholder died.
- The life insurance company is unable to find the life insurance beneficiary.
Finding a life insurance policy for a deceased family member can take some time, but there are a few steps that can make the process easier.
Look for life insurance policy documentation
“The first place to look is their files,” said Tim Connon, founder of ParamountQuote Insurance Advisors, which works with burial insurance.
If you believe your parent or other family member named you as the beneficiary of their life insurance policy, the best place to start is with their files and other relevant paperwork. Consider checking the following spots:
- Safe deposit boxes at banks.
- Filing cabinet and desk drawers.
- Incoming or outgoing mail, which may include correspondence from the life insurance company.
- Bank statements, which may show life insurance premium payments.
- Business cards, which may include a life insurance agent.
Contact professionals
Life insurance policies are often one part of a person’s financial plan. As such, another great way to search for a life insurance policy for a deceased family member is to contact professionals who provided them with financial or legal services. This may include:
- Financial advisors.
- Estate planners.
- Lawyers.
If your parent had an existing homeowners or auto insurance policy, you can also check with that insurance company, since insurers often offer discounts for bundling insurance products.
Also check with your parent’s employer, as many companies offer supplemental life insurance as part of their benefits package.
Reach out to state officials
If the above tactics don’t yield any results, check with The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) online life insurance policy locator. You can submit a policy locator request.
The NAIC will reach out to participating life insurance companies and have them search their records to see if your parent had a life insurance policy. If so, they’ll let you know if you are the life insurance beneficiary and/or authorized to receive information about the policy.
To submit an NAIC life insurance policy locator request, you must provide your contact information as well as information about the deceased, such as their:
- Full name.
- Social Security number (SSN).
- Date of birth.
- Date of death.
- Relationship to you.
Depending on how much time has passed, you may also be able to search your state’s unclaimed property department. Once there, you can find unclaimed accounts with financial institutions and other companies that have been turned over to the state. If you find unclaimed property, you can file a claim to have it returned to you.
Consider hiring a third party
There are some private search services that can help you find any missing life insurance policies for a fee. They’ll contact insurance companies on your behalf to find out if your parent(s) held any policies there.
How to know if you’re the beneficiary of a life insurance policy
If you locate a family member’s life insurance policy, the next step is to determine if you’re the life insurance beneficiary. There can be more than one life insurance beneficiary named on a policy.
The best way to find out if you’re the beneficiary on a loved one’s life insurance policy is to contact the life insurance company directly. If you are listed, the insurer will likely require you to submit proof of identity, such as your driver’s license and/or Social Security number or card.
What do I need to make a life insurance claim?
Once you’re ready to file a claim, you can let the insurance company know and they’ll provide instructions. Generally, you’ll need to provide the following:
- Insured’s full name (including their maiden name, if applicable).
- Insured’s Social Security number.
- Insured’s death certificate.
- Proof of your identity and relationship to the policyholder.
Depending on the life insurance company, you may be able to file your claim online, though some require you to contact the insurer directly.
What is a life insurance policy?
A life insurance policy is a contract between an insurance company and a policyholder. The policyholder makes regular payments in exchange for a death benefit, or a lump sum paid out to the policy’s beneficiaries, often loved ones.
There are two primary types of life insurance:
- Term life insurance.
- Permanent life insurance.
A term life insurance policy is a policy that locks in rates and coverage for a set time. If the policyholder dies within the term, while the policy is in force, the beneficiaries will get a death benefit.
Permanent life insurance offers lifelong coverage. As long as the premium is paid and the policy is in good standing, the beneficiaries will receive the death benefit. There are several types of permanent life insurance, including whole life insurance, variable life insurance and universal life insurance.
Learn more about life insurance
- How much life insurance do you need?
- Can you have more than one life insurance policy?
- Best cheap life insurance companies
- Permanent life insurance explained
- Life insurance for children: pros and cons
How to find life insurance policies of a deceased parent FAQs
If a parent dies while they have an active life insurance policy, the policy’s beneficiary, or beneficiaries, can file a claim to receive the death benefit.
In many cases, a parent will list a child as their life insurance beneficiary. If the child is an adult, they can contact the life insurance company to begin the claims process. The process can be a bit more complex if the beneficiary is a minor, depending on how the parent set up the policy.
Minors can not legally accept a death benefit, but parents can set up a trust with a named custodian to manage the benefit funds until the child becomes an adult. If the parent did not name a trust as the beneficiary, then a court-appointed custodian must be named, which can delay the death benefit payout.
No, you cannot buy a life insurance policy for someone — parent or otherwise — without their consent.
Taking life insurance out for a parent can be a helpful way to manage financial obligations, such as funeral costs, outstanding debt or medical expenses, after they die. However, they must agree to the policy and be part of the underwriting process.
If a parent dies and they have an active life insurance policy, the named beneficiaries will receive the death benefit. If they did not name any beneficiaries, the life insurance death benefit is paid out to their estate.
Keep in mind that if a parent has a term life insurance policy and dies after the term — and they didn’t renew the policy — a death benefit will not be issued.
Blueprint is an independent publisher and comparison service, not an investment advisor. The information provided is for educational purposes only and we encourage you to seek personalized advice from qualified professionals regarding specific financial decisions. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
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