Life Insurance FAQ

(c) 2009 CzddayPubs

First, check out WWW.POLICYLOCATOR.COM. They have a large database of insurance applicants available to the public and the cost is relatively cheap considering the value of what they might uncover. You will need to provide a death certificate and a notarized application - probably a good thing from a privacy perspective.

If the house and car were insured, start with the local agents who sold those policies. Insurance companies usually keep track of customer names and Social Security numbers.

If the policy was active, a premium notice eventually will come in the mail. Look for cancelled insurance checks.

Private firms specialize in finding lost life insurance for a fee. Search the Internet for "Life Benefits Search" or "Lost Life Insurance Finder."

No. In fact, the benefit will usually grow at interest until the insurance company can locate a beneficiary. One thing that some people don't consider is the fact that often an insured dies and no one knows he had insurance. Since no claim is made, the insurance either assumes he is still alive (in the case if a paid-up policy) or any unpaid premium notices will alert the executor that there is a policy in force. If the policy had been paid up and no one makes a claim, the insurance company will start looking for a beneficiary at the time when the policy was to mature. (Usually at the time when the insured would have been 95-100 years of age).