If a Parent or Loved One Dies, How Can You Find out If a Life Insurance Policy Exists?

First, go through your mother’s/father’s papers to see if there is a policy or correspondence from an insurance company. Policies are fairly “official” looking and should stand out from other papers.

If you are unsuccessful, or if that seems too daunting, look through you mother’s/father’s checkbooks and canceled checks from the last few years to see if s/he paid any insurance premiums.

Also, look through her/his address book for names of insurance agents.

If you find a policy, contact the insurance company even if it was years ago or if the policy is for insurance other than life insurance, such as home or auto insurance. People often use the same company for multiple policies.

In addition, contact her/his employer or previous employer and ask if there was insurance through the company.

Go online and check with the unclaimed property office in the state in which your mother/father lived to see if a life insurance policy was turned over to the state.

Last, for a $75 fee, MIB solutions (www.mib.com) will search its policy holder database, which has more than 140 million records. But, to get the information, you must provide proof that you’ve been appointed executor or administrator of your mother’s/father’s estate. You must also have an original death certificate with an official seal.

Go to the American Council of Life Insurers at www.acli.com for more ideas.