How to find a relative’s life insurance policy
Find out everything you need to know about tracing a life insurance policy of a deceased relative in this helpful guide.
Key takeaways
After someone dies the responsibility to find life insurance policies typically falls on the executor of the will but beneficiaries and next of kin can also make inquiries
You can contact insurers and ask if they have a life insurance policy in your relative's name
Life insurance policies don’t expire, and remain available for the beneficiary to claim
Why might I need to locate a life insurance policy?
There are several reasons why you might need to find a life insurance policy, including if you need to:
Claim a payout after death and access the lump sum payout
Trace forgotten or unclaimed policies
Settle an estate for probate or inheritance
Check if the cover is still active
Pay off a mortgage or loan
Review and update cover if you’re also on the policy
Resolve disputes and verify any changes made to the policy
Who is responsible for finding a deceased person’s life insurance policy?
In the UK, the responsibility for finding a deceased person’s life insurance policy usually falls to the executor or administrator of their estate - the person legally appointed to manage the deceased’s financial affairs.
This individual must identify all assets, including any life insurance policies, to ensure that beneficiaries receive what they’re entitled to and that the estate is settled correctly.
However, family members or next of kin often play a key role in the search, especially if the executor is unaware of the policy’s existence.
In some cases, financial advisers, solicitors, or insurance tracing services can also help locate missing or unclaimed life insurance policies.
How to check if the deceased held a life insurance policy?
Here are some of the ways you can find out if your relative had life insurance before they died:
Check personal documents
Look through the deceased’s paperwork, including old letters, bank statements, and policy documents that may mention an insurer or premium payments.
Review bank accounts
Search for standing orders or direct debits to insurance companies, which can indicate an active or recently cancelled policy.
Contact employers or pension providers
Some workplaces include death-in-service benefits or group life insurance, which can pay out even if the person didn’t hold a private policy.
Ask their financial adviser or solicitor
These professionals often hold details of insurance policies or can help identify which company the policy was with.
Search old emails or online accounts
Many insurers now send electronic policy documents, renewal reminders, or payment confirmations.
Use a tracing service
You can contact the Association of British Insurers (ABI) or use a tracking database service to trace lost or forgotten life insurance policies.
How do I make a life insurance claim?
When you find the life insurance policy, you should contact the relevant insurer to make a claim. You will be asked to provide certain information, including:
The policyholder’s name
Their policy number
The death certificate
Your proof of identity
Details of your relationship to the deceased
Even without all these details, especially the policy number, you can still make a claim, and the insurance agent will guide you further.
Find out more about how to make a life insurance claim in our helpful guide
What if there’s no obvious policy or beneficiary?
If there are no named beneficiaries or the beneficiary has died, the life insurance policy becomes part of the overall estate, and will be distributed according to the deceased’s will. In this case it is the executor’s job to inform the insurer of the death.
In the case of joint life insurance where both policyholders die at the same time, the policy would pay out to the named beneficiaries just once, in the same way as a single life insurance policy.
Common issues and delays when locating or claiming life insurance
Locating and claiming a life insurance policy isn’t always straightforward and there are common issues you may come across, including:
Missing or misplaced documents
Original policy papers or insurer details are lost, making it hard to trace the provider
Outdated beneficiary information
Old or incorrect names can cause disputes or delays while insurers verify who should be paid
Lapsed or cancelled policies
Premium payments may have stopped, meaning the policy is no longer valid and requires investigation
Delays in obtaining the death certificate
Claims can’t proceed without official documents confirming the death
Unclear policy ownership or trusts
Policies held in trusts or with multiple owners can take longer to verify and release funds
Slow communication or insurer backlogs
Processing times increase if extra evidence or paperwork is required
Unclaimed or forgotten policies
How to protect against this happening in future?
Here are some steps you can take to prevent any stress and delays caused by losing track of life insurance policies in the future:
Keep clear, organised records
Store policy documents, insurer contact details, and payment receipts in a dedicated, easy-to-find place.
Inform trusted people
Let your executor, close family members, or financial adviser know where your policies are and who the insurer is.
Review and update beneficiaries regularly
Life changes happen, so make sure your beneficiary details stay current and reflect your wishes.
Use online accounts where possible
Many insurers offer secure online portals where you can access policy information anytime.
Consider appointing a trusted person or professional
For example, a financial adviser or solicitor who can assist with managing and locating policies if needed.
Include life insurance details in your will or estate plan
This helps executors and loved ones find necessary information quickly after your passing.
How do I find life insurance quotes?
MoneySuperMarket’s life insurance comparison tool can be used to compare single and joint life insurance quotes by answering questions about your health, lifestyle, and desired cover amount.
You can then choose whether you want to take out level term, decreasing term, or another type of cover.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I have life insurance?
To check if you have life insurance, log into your insurer's customer portal to search for policy details. If unsure about your insurer, review financial documents or bank statements for regular payments to an insurance company.
How long after death do you have to collect life insurance?
There is no time limit for beneficiaries to file a life insurance claim after the policyholder's death.
However, it's beneficial to file the claim as soon as possible, as the insurer could take a month or more to process and investigate before paying out. For claims requiring additional investigation, the process can take up to 90 days.
Who can request information about a life insurance policy?
The executor or the estate’s appointed administrator can request information about a life insurance policy.
Next of kin and policy beneficiaries can also request information but may need to provide proof of identity to the insurance company.
What happens if a life insurance policy is unclaimed?
Unclaimed life insurance policies do not expire, and await the beneficiary’s claim, providing the full amount of death benefits in most cases.
An exception is for whole-of-life policies where the policyholder died before reaching 100, and the insurer wasn’t informed. Unpaid premiums will be deducted from the final payout until the insurer is notified, a claim is made, or the deceased would have turned 100.
How can I find out if a relative has died?
If you’ve lost touch with relatives, you may need to investigate to find out if they have died. You can check obituaries, search social media, scan local news, find the gravesite, and use genealogy websites as potential ways to discover if someone has passed away.
Author
Collette Shackleton
Content Writer
Collette Shackleton is a highly skilled Content Writer who has over nine years’ experience creating helpful and engaging personal finance content for consumers. Collette shares her experience as a...
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Katie Bishop
Insurance writer
Katie Bishop is an author and journalist with a decade of writing and editing experience. She has previously worked as an economics editor at Oxford University Press, and her business and finance...
