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NC DOI »   Consumers »   Life Insurance »   Locate a Lost Life Insurance Policy

Locate a Lost Life Insurance Policy

If you suspect that a deceased loved one had a life insurance policy or annuity contract that you are having trouble locating, the North Carolina Department of Insurance can help.

The Department has created the Lost Life Insurance and Annuity Inquiry Service to help consumers locate benefits from life insurance policies or annuity contracts purchased in North Carolina. Individuals who believe that they are beneficiaries, as well as executors and legal representatives of the deceased person, may submit an inquiry form at the link listed below.

Uploaded requests will be forwarded directly to North Carolina-licensed life insurance companies. Insurance companies will then contact the beneficiary if a policy is located.

If the person making the request is not legally entitled to information about the life insurance policy or annuity, the insurance company will not make contact with that person. Instead, the insurance company will begin a search for the beneficiaries named on the policy.

On-Line Inquiry Form

Inquiry Form (Word - Fill in electronically then print)

Locate a lost life insurance policy

January 25, 2021
lost, insurance, policy
Personal Records
  • Review the person’s papers for all other types of insurance policies, even if you're not sure the policy is still in force. If you locate an automobile policy or homeowner’s policy, contact the company (or insurance agency) to determine if that same company issued a life insurance policy as well.
  • Review canceled checks, credit card receipts and other financial records for evidence of any payments to life insurance companies.
  • Check the person’s incoming mail for at least one year after his/her death to identify any premium notices, annual reports or other communications from a life insurance company.
  • Review the person’s income tax returns for the past two years, for any interest income or interest expense from an insurance company.
  • If the deceased owned a cell phone, check the contact list for an insurance agent or agency.
Family and Friends
  • Check with all family members and close friends and ask if the person ever mentioned an insurance company.
  • If the person lived in a small community, check with local insurance agent(s) who might have done business with him/her.
Past Employers, Associations, etc.
  • Contact the deceased person’s last place of employment to determine if he/she had any group life insurance through the employer.
  • Check with unions and associations to which the person belonged, to learn if insurance was purchased through them.
  • Check with the person’s bank to determine if he/she maintained a lock box.
Check with State Government

Contact the state's unclaimed property office for any unclaimed money from life insurance companies. You should periodically conduct this check for an extended number of years.

Life Insurance

  • Life Insurance Options
  • Universal Life Considerations
  • Standard Policy Provisions and Optional Riders
  • Shopping for Life Insurance
  • Applying for Life Insurance
  • Collecting Death Benefits
  • Locate a Lost Life Insurance Policy
  • FAQs About Life Insurance

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North Carolina Department of Insurance

Physical Address:
Albemarle Building
325 N. Salisbury Street
Raleigh NC 27603-5926

Mailing Address:
NC Department of Insurance
1201 Mail Service Center
Raleigh NC 27699-1201

Toll Free 855-408-1212

Agent Services: 919-807-6800

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https://www.ncdoi.gov/consumers/life-insurance/locate-lost-life-insurance-policy