Locate a Life Insurance Policy

If you suspect that a loved one had a life policy, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has created a Life Insurance Policy Locator service to help consumers locate benefits from life insurance policies or annuity contracts purchased anywhere in the United States.  The companies will search their records to determine whether they have life policies or annuity contracts and will contact you directly only if they find a policy in the name of the deceased and you are the designated beneficiary or authorized legal representative. This service is free of charge. Prior to utilizing this service, you are required to conduct a diligent search of the deceased person's records.

The following tips may assist you in your search:

• Look through the decedent's records, including safety deposit box.

• Contact previous employer as the individual may be a certificate holder of an employer-provided group life policy.

• Check bank accounts and canceled checks to see if payment was being made to a life insurance company.

• Check with the decedent's auto or home insurance agent as they may have purchased life insurance through them.

• Review the decedent's income tax records.

• Check the State Controller's Office Life Insurance Settlement Property Search engine or call them at 800-992-4647. Life insurance companies are required to annually report and deliver property to the California State Controller's Office after there has been no activity on the account or contact with the owner for a period of time specified in the law, generally three years or more.  

If you find a life insurance policy for a deceased relative but cannot locate the company, you can call our Consumer Hotline at 1-800-927-4357 or check the Company Profile on our Website to obtain address and phone contact information.