How do I find a relative’s life insurance policy?
Key takeaways
After someone dies, it is usually the executor of the will, or administrator of the estate, who is responsible for tracing any life insurance policies, though beneficiaries and authorised family members can also make enquiries
If you don’t know which insurer provided the cover, there are several ways to trace a policy, including checking paperwork and bank statements, contacting former employers, or using a tracing service
Even if you don’t discover a policy immediately, you can still make a claim, as policies don’t expire, but it’s best to contact the insurer as soon as possible
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 (the legal process for administering an estate), or inheritance
Check if the cover is still active
Use the payout to help repay a mortgage or other debts
Review and update cover if you’re also on the policy (if it’s a joint policy)
Resolve disputes and verify any chances made to the policy
Who is responsible for finding a deceased person’s life insurance policy?
In the UK, it is usually the executor of the will, or, if there isn’t a valid will, the administrator of the estate, who is responsible for finding any life insurance policies. This is the person legally appointed to manage the deceased’s financial affairs.
As part of administering the estate, the 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 often play a key role in the search, especially if the executor or administrator is unaware that a policy exists.
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 during their lifetime:
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 former employers
Some workplaces include death-in-service or group life insurance as part of their workplace benefits package. These can pay out even if the person didn’t hold a separate life insurance 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 policy documents, renewal reminders, or payment confirmations electronically.
Use a tracing service
If you’re unable to find any paperwork, you can contact the Association of British Insurers (ABI) or use a database service to trace lost or forgotten life insurance policies.
How do I make a life insurance claim?
Once you’ve found the life insurance policy, you should contact the relevant insurer to start the claims process. You will be asked to provide certain information, including:
The policyholder’s name
Their policy number
The death certificate
Proof of your identity
Details of your relationship to the deceased
Don’t worry if you don’t have 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 you can’t find a life insurance policy, don’t assume one doesn’t exist. As mentioned above, check the deceased’s paperwork and bank statements for premium payments, contact former employers and financial advisers, or use a tracing service.
If there are no named beneficiaries(the people named to receive the payout), or if the beneficiary has died, what happens next depends on the type of policy – and whether it’s ‘written in trust.’
If the policy isn’t ‘written in trust,’ the life insurance payout usually becomes part of the overall estate, and will be distributed according to the deceased’s will.
Joint life insurance normally pays out once. If both policyholders were to die at the same time, the lump sum is usually paid pay out to the named beneficiaries. This will be determined by the policy terms and any trust arrangements.
Common issues and delays when locating or claiming life insurance
Tracing a life insurance policy – and making a claim – isn’t always straightforward. Here are some of the common issues you may come across:
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
A policy may go unclaimed for years if no-one knows it exists, but beneficiaries can usually still make a claim once it has been traced.
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
Taking a few simple steps now can make it much easier for loved ones to find your life insurance policy – and make a claim – when the time comes. Here are some steps to help avoid unnecessary stress and delays:
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 any time.
Consider appointing a trusted person or professional
This could be 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 you die.
How do I find life insurance quotes?
MoneySuperMarket’s life insurance comparison tool can be used to compare single and joint life insurance quotes from a range of insurers. Simply answer a few questions about your health, lifestyle, and desired cover amount.
You can then compare different types of life insurance, including level term and decreasing term cover, to help you find a policy that suits your needs and budget.
Frequently asked questions
How do I check if I have life insurance?
To check if you have life insurance, first review your financial documents or bank statements for regular payments to an insurance company. If you know who your insurer is, you can log into your insurer's customer portal to search for policy details. You can also contact them directly.
How long after death do you have to collect life insurance?
There is generally no fixed time limit for beneficiaries to file a life insurance claim after the policyholder's death.
However, it’s best to file the claim as soon as possible, as the insurer could take a month or more to process and investigate before paying out. Note that more complex claims which require additional checks can take longer to process.
Who can request information about a life insurance policy?
The executor or, if there isn’t a valid will, the estate’s appointed administrator, can request information about a life insurance policy.
Beneficiaries and, in some cases, family members or next of kin may also be able to request information but may need to provide proof of identity to the insurance company, along with evidence they are entitled to receive it.
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. However, it’s best to contact the insurer at the earliest opportunity.
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 grave, and use genealogy websites as potential ways to discover if someone has passed away. You can also search the General Register Office (GRO) death register.
Is life insurance public record?
No. Life insurance policies are not public record in the UK. Only the policyholder, insurer, beneficiaries, and people with legal authority, such as the executor or estate administrator, can usually access information about a policy or make enquiries after the policyholder has died.
Author
Collette Shackleton
Content Writer
Collette is an experienced Content Writer at MoneySuperMarket, helping people make sense of money and insurance topics without the jargon. She shares her experience as a first-time Mum and top...
Reviewer
Esther Shaw
Money expert
Esther Shaw is an award-winning consumer, financial and property journalist with more than two decades of experience. As a freelance writer, she regularly contributes to a range of national titles...
