What You Ought to Know
- Step one in how you can discover out if somebody has life insurance coverage is to collect related info
- State Insurance coverage Departments can assist you find a life insurance coverage coverage if there’s one accessible
- If a big period of time has handed for the reason that deceased’s loss of life, the coverage could also be listed as unclaimed property
If your beloved didn’t go away a transparent document of a life insurance coverage coverage, it may be tough to know how you can discover an previous life insurance coverage coverage. We break down the primary steps on how you can discover out if somebody has life insurance coverage, so you may simply discover out whether or not the deceased had an lively life insurance coverage coverage.
As soon as you discover the life insurance coverage coverage, it’s then a matter of coping with any life insurance coverage loss of life advantages, which can come within the type of a lump sum or a number of funds.
To be able to discover a life insurance coverage coverage and potential loss of life profit payouts, learn our information beneath.
The best way to Seek for Outdated Life Insurance coverage Insurance policies
There are a couple of methods to seek out an previous life insurance coverage coverage, however the most effective methods is to contact your State Insurance coverage Division and use its life insurance coverage coverage locator.
You will want the deceased’s loss of life certificates and social safety quantity. Under, now we have listed the contact info for every State Insurance coverage Division.
Insurance coverage Division Contact Info by State
| State | Insurance coverage Division | Telephone Quantity | Web site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Alabama Division of Insurance coverage | (334) 241-4141 | www.aldoi.gov |
| Alaska | Alaska Division of Insurance coverage | (907) 269-7900 | www.commerce.alaska.gov/ins |
| Arizona | Arizona Division of Insurance coverage | (602) 364-3100 | insurance coverage.az.gov |
| Arkansas | Arkansas Insurance coverage Division | (501) 371-2600 | insurance coverage.arkansas.gov |
| California | California Division of Insurance coverage | (800) 927-4357 | www.insurance coverage.ca.gov |
| Colorado | Colorado Division of Insurance coverage | (303) 894-7499 | doi.colorado.gov |
| Connecticut | Connecticut Insurance coverage Division | (860) 297-3800 | portal.ct.gov/cid |
| Delaware | Delaware Insurance coverage Division | (302) 674-7300 | insurance coverage.delaware.gov |
| Florida | Florida Workplace of Insurance coverage Regulation | (850) 413-3140 | www.floir.com |
| Georgia | Georgia Workplace of Insurance coverage and Security Hearth Commissioner | (404) 656-2070 | www.oci.ga.gov |
| Hawaii | Hawaii Division of Commerce and Shopper Affairs | (808) 586-2790 | cca.hawaii.gov/ins |
| Idaho | Idaho Division of Insurance coverage | (208) 334-4250 | www.doi.idaho.gov |
| Illinois | Illinois Division of Insurance coverage | (312) 814-2420 | insurance coverage.illinois.gov |
| Indiana | Indiana Division of Insurance coverage | (317) 232-2385 | www.in.gov/idoi |
| Iowa | Iowa Insurance coverage Division | (515) 281-5705 | iid.iowa.gov |
| Kansas | Kansas Insurance coverage Division | (785) 296-3071 | insurance coverage.kansas.gov |
| Kentucky | Kentucky Division of Insurance coverage | (502) 564-3630 | insurance coverage.ky.gov |
| Louisiana | Louisiana Division of Insurance coverage | (225) 342-5900 | ldi.la.gov |
| Maine | Maine Bureau of Insurance coverage | (207) 624-8475 | www.maine.gov/insurance coverage |
| Maryland | Maryland Insurance coverage Administration | (410) 468-2000 | insurance coverage.maryland.gov |
| Massachusetts | Massachusetts Division of Insurance coverage | (617) 521-7794 | www.mass.gov/doi |
| Michigan | Michigan Division of Insurance coverage and Monetary Companies | (877) 999-6442 | www.michigan.gov/difs |
| Minnesota | Minnesota Division of Commerce | (651) 539-1500 | mn.gov/commerce |
| Mississippi | Mississippi Insurance coverage Division | (601) 359-3569 | www.mid.ms.gov |
| Missouri | Missouri Division of Commerce and Insurance coverage | (573) 751-4126 | insurance coverage.mo.gov |
| Montana | Montana State Auditor’s Workplace | (406) 444-2040 | csimt.gov |
| Nebraska | Nebraska Division of Insurance coverage | (402) 471-2201 | doi.nebraska.gov |
| Nevada | Nevada Division of Insurance coverage | (702) 486-4009 | doi.nv.gov |
| New Hampshire | New Hampshire Insurance coverage Division | (603) 271-2261 | www.nh.gov/insurance coverage |
| New Jersey | New Jersey Division of Banking and Insurance coverage | (609) 292-7272 | www.state.nj.us/dobi |
| New Mexico | New Mexico Workplace of Superintendent of Insurance coverage | (505) 827-4601 | www.osi.state.nm.us |
| New York | New York State Division of Monetary Companies | (800) 342-3736 | www.dfs.ny.gov |
| North Carolina | North Carolina Division of Insurance coverage | (855) 408-1212 | www.ncdoi.gov |
| North Dakota | North Dakota Insurance coverage Division | (701) 328-2440 | www.insurance coverage.nd.gov |
| Ohio | Ohio Division of Insurance coverage | (614) 644-2658 | www.insurance coverage.ohio.gov |
| Oklahoma | Oklahoma Insurance coverage Division | (405) 521-2828 | www.oid.okay.gov |
| Oregon | Oregon Division of Monetary Regulation | (888) 877-4894 | dfr.oregon.gov |
| Pennsylvania | Pennsylvania Insurance coverage Division | (877) 881-6388 | www.insurance coverage.pa.gov |
| Rhode Island | Rhode Island Division of Enterprise Regulation | (401) 462-9520 | www.dbr.ri.gov |
| South Carolina | South Carolina Division of Insurance coverage | (803) 737-6160 | www.doi.sc.gov |
| South Dakota | South Dakota Division of Insurance coverage | (605) 773-3563 | dlr.sd.gov/insurance coverage |
| Tennessee | Tennessee Division of Commerce and Insurance coverage | (615) 741-2241 | www.tn.gov/commerce/insurance coverage |
| Texas | Texas Division of Insurance coverage | (512) 676-6000 | www.tdi.texas.gov |
| Utah | Utah Insurance coverage Division | (801) 538-3800 | insurance coverage.utah.gov |
| Vermont | Vermont Division of Monetary Regulation | (802) 828-3301 | dfr.vermont.gov |
| Virginia | Virginia State Company Fee | (804) 371-9741 | scc.virginia.gov/boi |
| Washington | Washington Workplace of the Insurance coverage Commissioner | (800) 562-6900 | www.insurance coverage.wa.gov |
| Washington D.C. | Washington D.C. Division of Insurance coverage | (202) 727-8000 | disb.dc.gov |
| West Virginia | West Virginia Workplaces of the Insurance coverage Commissioner | (304) 558-3386 | insurance coverage.wv.gov |
| Wisconsin | Wisconsin Workplace of the Commissioner of Insurance coverage | (608) 266-3585 | oci.wi.gov |
| Wyoming | Wyoming Division of Insurance coverage | (307) 777-7401 | doi.wyo.gov |
Learn extra:
You’ll be able to name your state’s division straight, or you may go to the web site for assist finding a life insurance coverage coverage. As soon as you discover the life insurance coverage coverage, additionally, you will be capable to uncover for those who had been listed as a life insurance coverage beneficiary on the coverage.
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Utilizing a Life Insurance coverage Coverage Locator
Once you contact your State Insurance coverage Division, it’s useful to have gathered info on the coverage if potential. This can assist the State Insurance coverage Division find the deceased’s life insurance coverage coverage if one is to be discovered.
The coverage info you need to search for is as follows:
Steps to Seek for Outdated Life Insurance coverage Insurance policies
| Steps | Info to Search for |
|---|---|
| Search the deceased’s paperwork | Proof of coverage and related info |
| Search via paper and digital recordsdata | Insurance coverage-related paperwork |
| Test financial institution statements | Checks or computerized drafts to life insurance coverage corporations |
| Test mail and e-mail | Premium or dividend notices, annual notices |
| Evaluate tax returns | File of curiosity earnings or bills paid to insurance coverage corporations |
| Test utility paperwork | Listing of different life insurance coverage insurance policies |
Whereas it could take some time to dig via paperwork to seek out the mandatory paperwork, keep in mind that it’s a lot simpler and sooner on your State Insurance coverage Division to seek out an insurance coverage coverage if in case you have at the least a number of the documentation listed above proving that there’s an insurance coverage coverage in existence.
In case you have any confusion about how life insurance coverage insurance policies and payouts work when searching for a coverage, learn our information on how does life insurance coverage work for extra info.
Contacting the State Insurance coverage Division
You may as well contact the State Insurance coverage Division for those who need assistance finding a life insurance coverage coverage as a result of some info is lacking. When you don’t have to know all of the coverage info, like if the deceased had a time period life or everlasting life insurance coverage coverage, you need to know primary details about the deceased and the insurance coverage firm.
Under, we’ve listed some cases the place you might need bother discovering misplaced life insurance coverage due to a scarcity of primary info, in addition to what you need to do in every case.
Strategies of Finding an Present Life Insurance coverage Coverage
| Strategies | Steps |
|---|---|
| NAIC Life Insurance coverage Coverage Locator Service | Submit a request with related info |
| State’s Unclaimed Property Workplace | Search the state’s unclaimed property database |
| Insurance coverage firm modified its identify or offered | Tips about discovering insurance coverage corporations that underwent adjustments |
| Firm went bankrupt | Contact the state life and well being warranty affiliation |
| Coverage could have been bought in Canada | Attain out to the Canadian Ombudservice for Life and Well being Insurance coverage |
| Charge-based providers | Companies provided by MIB and personal corporations for a price |
Troubleshooting by following the steps above will allow you to together with your previous insurance coverage coverage search.
Suggestions for Discovering an Outdated Life Insurance coverage Coverage
When you aren’t positive the place to start out together with your search, check out our suggestions beneath on how you can discover out if somebody has life insurance coverage.
Steps to Discover a Misplaced Life Insurance coverage Coverage
| Steps | Info to Search for |
|---|---|
| Undergo the deceased’s paperwork | Life insurance coverage coverage amongst paperwork, storage, or protected deposit field |
| Test digital recordsdata | Pc, exterior arduous drive, or cloud system |
| Search financial institution statements | Funds or checks to life insurance coverage corporations |
| Evaluate tax returns | File of curiosity earnings or bills paid to insurance coverage corporations |
| Test e-mail or mail | Premium cost reminders, dividend notices, or advertising supplies |
| Use NAIC Life Insurance coverage Coverage Locator instrument | Relationship to the deceased and related private particulars |
| Contact state’s insurance coverage division | Fundamental details about the deceased and a replica of the loss of life certificates |
| Test unclaimed property packages | State packages for unclaimed life insurance coverage insurance policies |
| Attain out to the deceased’s employer | Advantages or HR division for info on current insurance policies |
| Seek the advice of monetary advisors, accountants, and so forth. | Inquire a few life insurance coverage coverage in place |
| Strive the MIB Group | Database seek for life insurance coverage utility info |
As you may see, there are many methods to gather the data wanted. Though some strategies could also be extra time-consuming, the data gathered will allow you to decide whether or not there was an lively life insurance coverage coverage.
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Distinctive Challenges to Discovering Outdated Life Insurance coverage
Typically, the challenges that come up when searching for an previous life insurance coverage coverage must do with modified info or a big lapse of time between the deceased’s loss of life and the seek for a life insurance coverage coverage.
For instance, the corporate that held the deceased’s life insurance coverage coverage could have gone underneath or modified its identify. This could make it more durable to trace down the corporate that held the life insurance coverage coverage.
If a big period of time has handed for the reason that deceased’s loss of life and whenever you began investigating for a life insurance coverage coverage, this may additionally make it trickier to seek out the coverage.
At this level, it will likely be thought-about unclaimed property, so you’ll have to go looking via a number of databases to seek out the life insurance coverage coverage.
When Occurs When You Can’t Discover an Outdated Life Insurance coverage Coverage
When you can’t discover an previous life insurance coverage plan, guarantee it’s not listed as unclaimed property someplace. Double-check that you’ve the data right, as effectively. (For extra info, learn our “The best way to Discover an Unclaimed Life Insurance coverage Coverage“).
When you nonetheless can’t discover an previous life insurance coverage coverage, it’s potential that there is probably not one accessible. Maybe the deceased had a life insurance coverage coverage, however they let it lapse earlier than their loss of life, making the life insurance coverage coverage invalid.
Backside Line: Discovering Outdated Life Insurance coverage Insurance policies
On the subject of steps in how you can discover life insurance coverage insurance policies, don’t be discouraged for those who can’t discover a life insurance coverage coverage instantly. It could actually take a bit of labor and analysis to seek out an older life insurance coverage coverage, particularly if it has been labeled as unclaimed property.
Nevertheless, by gathering info and utilizing authorities insurance coverage websites and sources, you need to be capable to uncover a coverage.We hope that our information on how you can discover an previous life insurance coverage coverage has been useful.
If you’re seeking to buy a life insurance coverage coverage your self, ensure that to maintain an in depth document of the coverage on your beneficiaries and browse our information on sorts of life insurance coverage to seek out the most effective coverage on your wants.
We additionally supply useful info that solutions questions like “do you want a Social Safety Quantity to get life insurance coverage” to assist information you thru the applying course of.
Often Requested Questions
How can I discover out if a cherished one had a insurance coverage coverage?
You’ll be able to contact your State Insurance coverage Division for assist discovering misplaced insurance coverage insurance policies.
Who can declare previous insurance coverage insurance policies?
In case you have positioned the coverage utilizing a insurance coverage coverage locator, this doesn’t routinely imply you get a insurance coverage payout. You have to be a listed beneficiary on a insurance coverage coverage to assert an previous insurance coverage coverage loss of life profit.
How can I test if I’m a beneficiary of a insurance coverage coverage?
First, you’ll need to seek out out if there’s a insurance coverage coverage via an previous insurance coverage coverage search. Then, you may contact the insurance coverage firm to see if you’re a listed beneficiary.
What info do I have to discover a misplaced insurance coverage coverage?
At a naked minimal, you’ll need the essential details about the deceased, so you are able to do primary searches like a insurance coverage coverage search by social safety quantity or a insurance coverage coverage search by identify and coverage quantity.
Can a insurance coverage coverage be positioned after the policyholder’s loss of life?
Sure, you should use a insurance coverage coverage locator to discover a coverage after the policyholder’s loss of life.
How lengthy does it take to discover a misplaced insurance coverage coverage?
When performing an previous insurance coverage coverage search, the time it takes is dependent upon what info you will have and which instruments you employ. For instance, if you’re utilizing a authorities web site to discover a coverage, it could take as much as a number of months to obtain a reply.
What occurs if a insurance coverage coverage can’t be discovered?
If a insurance coverage coverage can’t be discovered with a insurance coverage coverage locator and no beneficiaries step ahead, then after a couple of years the insurance coverage firm will usually flip the cash over to the state.
How do I forestall shedding observe of my insurance coverage coverage sooner or later?
As a result of insurance coverage is a vital asset on your family members after you move, you will need to hold observe of it. Be certain to maintain coverage particulars and different related info in a protected spot that your beneficiaries will simply be capable to entry. Learn our information on “Is insurance coverage an asset” to be taught extra.
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Tim Bain
Founder & Life Insurance coverage Agent
Tim Bain is a licensed life insurance coverage agent with 23 years of expertise serving to individuals defend their households and companies with time period life insurance coverage.
His insurance coverage experience has been featured in a number of publications, together with Investopedia and eFinancial. He additionally does digital marking and evaluation for KPS/3, a communications and marking agency positioned in Nevada.
Founder & Life Insurance coverage Agent
Editorial Tips: We’re a free on-line useful resource for anybody taken with studying extra about life insurance coverage. Our objective is to be an goal, third-party useful resource for every thing life insurance-related. We replace our web site often, and all content material is reviewed by life insurance coverage consultants.
