Unclaimed life insurance: how to find a policy, death benefits held by states, and demutualization shares

Where unclaimed life insurance is: the insurer or the state

A life insurance benefit nobody has claimed is in one of two places:

• Still with the insurer. Often the family does not know the policy exists. The NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator was created for this. It is a free tool that helps people find a deceased relative’s life insurance policies and annuity contracts.⁵
• With a state unclaimed property program. If the insurer cannot find the beneficiary, it must report the money to a state after the dormancy period.¹²³

Check both. A state search only finds money the insurer has already reported, and the locator only reaches the life insurance and annuity companies that take part in it.⁵

How the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator works

1. Create an account on naic.org and submit a request with the deceased person’s details from the death certificate: Social Security number, legal first and last name, and dates of birth and death.⁵
2. Your request is stored in a secure database that participating life insurance and annuity companies can access.⁵
3. If a company finds a policy and you are the beneficiary, it contacts you directly, usually within 90 days.⁵

If no policy is found, or you are not the beneficiary, nobody contacts you. The NAIC itself has no policy or beneficiary information.⁵ The tool does not search for policies of people who are alive.⁷ The NAIC Help Desk is at [email protected].⁵

When life insurance becomes unclaimed property

In most of the states below the dormancy period runs from when the benefit became payable. Florida counts from the date of death³ and Delaware from when the insurer learns of the death.¹⁸ Under Florida’s law, a policy counts as matured and its proceeds payable when the company knows the insured has died, or, if certain other conditions are met, when the insured has reached, or would have reached if living, the “limiting age” of the insurer’s mortality table.³ The period differs by state:

Policies that count as matured only because of the limiting-age rule can have a shorter period: 2 years in Florida,³ and 1 year after the limiting age in Delaware.¹⁸ In Pennsylvania, Treasury guidance says proceeds are reported 3 years after the insurer learns of the insured’s death, when the beneficiaries cannot be found.²⁷ NAUPA, the association of state unclaimed property programs, supports laws that start the dormancy period on the date of death and do not require the owner to have handed in a death certificate first.²⁴

Which state. Under the rules set by the U.S. Supreme Court, the benefit goes to the state of the last known address in the insurer’s records. If the address is unknown, or that state has no law letting it take the money, it goes to the state where the insurer is incorporated.¹⁹ In Florida, if the insurer has no address for the beneficiary, the law presumes the beneficiary’s address is the insured’s last known address.³ So search the states where the insured lived as well as the states where the beneficiaries lived. Life insurers can report on a different schedule from other businesses: in California they report before May 1 instead of November 1.²²

Puerto Rico is different. Insurance money left unclaimed and unpaid for 5 years or more is paid to the Insurance Commissioner.²³ A claim must be filed within 1 year after the money reaches the Commissioner. After that it becomes the property of the Commonwealth.²³ The Puerto Rico page has the details.

Death Master File checks

The Death Master File is the Social Security Administration’s list of deceased people. Insurers can use it to find policyholders who have died.⁸ Some states require it. Florida requires insurers to compare their life policies, annuities with a death benefit, and retained asset accounts in force on or after January 1, 1992 against the Death Master File, at least once a year before August 31.³ North Dakota’s law counts a validated Death Master File match as the insurer’s knowledge of the death.¹⁴ In North Dakota, though, a match is not proof of death for a beneficiary’s claim,¹⁴ and in both North Dakota and Maryland it does not change what a beneficiary must do to claim under the policy.¹⁴¹⁵

Jackson National Life Insurance. On December 17, 2015, the California Department of Insurance announced settlement agreements between Jackson National and the states taking part in a national investigation, related to its use of the Death Master File.⁸ Jackson National agreed to pay $2.5 million to the participating states. It also agreed to compare all company records against the database to find unclaimed death benefits and to search for the beneficiaries.⁸ Idaho’s order adopting the agreement covers Brooke Life Insurance Company, Jackson National Life Insurance Company and Jackson National Life Insurance Company of New York. It records that the companies deny any wrongdoing or violations of law.⁹ The order describes Jackson National Life Insurance Company as a Michigan-domiciled insurer.⁹ Any Jackson National benefit that has been reported as unclaimed property is searched and claimed through the state programs, free, as with any other insurer.⁶

Demutualization shares and cash

Demutualization is when a life insurance company changes from a mutual company to a stock company. Policyholders of the mutual company may receive stock in the new company, or cash, in exchange for their equity interest.²⁰ When the shares or checks cannot be delivered, they become unclaimed property on their own schedule:

Once a state has the shares, it may sell them. Minnesota’s law lets it sell securities from an insurance company demutualization as soon as it receives them, instead of holding them for a year as it does with other property sold on a market.²¹ IRS Publication 550 explains how the stock or cash received in a demutualization is treated for tax purposes.²⁰ See is unclaimed property taxable? for what official sources say about taxes.

Claiming life insurance from a state

Search the official program of each state involved under the policyholder’s name (how to search well), then file the claim with that state. Searching and claiming through the state’s official program is free.⁶ Each state sets its own proof. California, for example, asks for the insurance policy or an insurance statement, or else proof of residence at the address the insurer reported.²⁵ In Minnesota, if the insured is still living, the money is paid to the insured, whatever the beneficiary designation says.²⁶ For a claim on behalf of someone who has died, the deceased relative guide and the claim documents tool list what states ask for. For veterans’ policies, see other official places to check.

Questions people ask

How do I find out if someone who died had a life insurance policy?

Submit a request through the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator with the details from the death certificate. Participating insurers check their records, and if a policy is found and you are the beneficiary, the company contacts you directly, usually within 90 days.⁵ Also search the state unclaimed property programs of every state where the insured or the beneficiaries lived, in case the benefit was already reported.⁶

Is the NAIC life insurance policy locator free?

Yes. State insurance departments describe it as a free online tool.⁵⁷ You will not be contacted if no policy is found or you are not the beneficiary, and the NAIC itself holds no policy or beneficiary information.⁵

Can I use the policy locator for someone who is still alive?

No. The tool will not locate benefits from life insurance policies and annuity contracts for people who are alive.⁷

How long does an insurer keep an unpaid death benefit before sending it to the state?

It depends on the state: 3 years in California,¹ Pennsylvania² and Maryland,¹⁶ 5 years after the date of death in Florida,³ and 5 years after the insurer learns of the death in Delaware.¹⁸ The dormancy table compares states.

What happens to demutualization shares nobody claimed?

They are reported to the state as unclaimed property: in Alabama, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania, 2 years after the demutualization.^101113172 A state may then sell the shares: Minnesota's law allows demutualization securities to be sold upon receipt.²¹

How do I find Jackson National Life Insurance unclaimed property?

Life insurance money that Jackson National Life Insurance Company could not pay is reported to state programs like any insurer's. Search the official program of each state where the policyholder or the beneficiary lived, under the policyholder's name.⁶¹⁹ In 2015, California's Insurance Commissioner announced that Jackson National had agreed to compare all company records against the Death Master File to look for unclaimed death benefits.⁸

Sources

Footnote numbers point here. Open "Quoted text" for the exact words relied on ("[…]" marks words left out).

1. Dormancy Periods for Most Frequently Reported Unclaimed Property Type (PDF) California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · Rev. 07/2023 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (4)

   Life Insurance Funds 3 CCP 1515

   Incorrect address Immediately CCP 1515.5 (a)

   Returned mail 2 CCP 1515.5 (b)

   No response 3 CCP 1515.5 (c)

2. The Fiscal Code, Act of Apr. 9, 1929, P.L. 343, No. 176, Article XIII.1 (72 P.S. § 1301.1 et seq.) Pennsylvania General Assembly · palegis.us · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (2)

   Any moneys held or owing by an insurer as established by its records under any contract of annuity or policy of life insurance including premiums returnable or dividends payable, unclaimed and unpaid for more than three (3) years after the moneys have or shall become due and payable under the provisions of such contract of annuity or policy of insurance.

   Property distributable in the course of a demutualization or related reorganization of an insurance company is deemed abandoned two (2) years after the date of the demutualization or reorganization if instruments or statements reflecting the distribution are either mailed to the owner and returned by the post office as undeliverable or not mailed to the owner because of a known bad address on the books and records of the holder.

3. Chapter 717, Florida Statutes (2026), Florida Disposition of Abandoned Personal Property Act The Florida Legislature · leg.state.fl.us · 2026 Florida Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (8)

   Funds held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract which has matured or terminated are presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than 5 years after the date of death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder, but property described in paragraph (3)(d) is presumed abandoned if such property is not claimed for more than 2 years.

   a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract not matured by actual proof of the death of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder according to the records of the company is deemed matured and the proceeds due and payable if any of the following applies:

   (a) The company knows that the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder has died.

   1. The insured has attained, or would have attained if he or she were living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve is based;

   If a person other than the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder is entitled to the funds and no address of the person is known to the company or it is not definite and certain from the records of the company who is entitled to the funds, it is presumed that the last known address of the person entitled to the funds is the same as the last known address of the insured, the annuitant, or the retained asset account holder according to the records of the company.

   The comparisons must be made on at least an annual basis before August 31 of each year.

   an insurer shall compare the records of its insureds’ life or endowment insurance policies, annuity contracts that provide a death benefit, and retained asset accounts that were in force at any time on or after January 1, 1992, against the United States Social Security Administration Death Master File

   Property distributable in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company is deemed abandoned 2 years after the date the property is first distributable if, at the time of the first distribution, the last known address of the apparent owner on the books and records of the holder is known to be incorrect or the distribution or statements are returned by the post office as undeliverable

4. Code of Virginia Title 55.1 Chapter 25, Virginia Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act (full chapter) Commonwealth of Virginia, Legislative Information System · law.lis.virginia.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (2)

   Funds held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract that has matured or terminated are presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than five years after the funds became due and payable as established from the records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds, except that property described in subdivision C 2 is presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than two years.

   Unclaimed property payable or distributable in the course of the demutualization of an insurance company is presumed abandoned five years after the earlier of (i) the date of last contact with the policyholder or (ii) the date the property became payable or distributable.

5. How to Use the Life Insurance Policy Locator South Carolina Department of Insurance · doi.sc.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (12)

   To help solve this issue, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) created the Life Insurance Policy Locator, a free online tool that helps consumers find their deceased loved one’s life insurance policies and annuity contracts.

   Create an account by entering your email address and name.

   Submit a search request by entering the deceased’s information from the death certificate:

   Social security number

   Legal first name

   Legal last name

   Date of birth

   Date of death

   Your request will be stored in a secure, encrypted database where participating life insurance and annuity companies can access the information through a secure portal.

   If a policy is found and you are the beneficiary, the life insurance or annuity company will contact you directly, usually within 90 days.

   You will not be contacted if no policy is found or you are not the beneficiary. Please note that the NAIC has no policy or beneficiary information.

   For assistance related to the Life Insurance Policy Locator, you can contact the NAIC Help Desk at [email protected] or you can review the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) on this topic.

6. Claim Your Found Property National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA) · unclaimed.org · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (1)

   Both searching for and claiming your unclaimed property are free, provided you go through the official government program of the state holding the property.

7. Life Insurance Policy Locator Arkansas Insurance Department · insurance.arkansas.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (2)

   The tool will not locate potential benefits from life insurance policies and annuity contracts for people who are alive.

   To help solve this issue, the NAIC created the Life Insurance Policy Locator, a free online tool that helps consumers find their deceased loved one’s life insurance policies and annuity contracts.

8. Multimillion dollar Death Master settlements reached (press release) California Department of Insurance · insurance.ca.gov · Dec. 17, 2015 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (5)

   For Release: December 17, 2015

   Insurance Commissioner Dave Jones today announced multi-million dollar settlement agreements with Jackson National and Axa related to use of the Social Security Administration's Death Master File database.

   Jackson National will pay $2.5 million and Axa $3.28 million to the states participating in the national investigation.

   Jackson National and Axa have agreed to compare all company records against the Death Master database to determine whether there are unclaimed death benefits and conduct a thorough search for beneficiaries to whom unclaimed benefits may be owed.

   Created by the Social Security Administration, the Death Master File database provides insurers with the names of deceased people with social security numbers.

9. Order Adopting Regulatory Settlement Agreement, Docket No. 18-3132-16 (PDF) Idaho Department of Insurance · doi.idaho.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
   Quoted text (3)

   Brooke Life Insurance Company, Jackson National Life Insurance Company, and Jackson National Life Insurance

   JACKSON NATIONAL LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY is a Michigan-

   the Companies deny any wrongdoing or violations of law.

10. Code of Alabama § 35-12-72 Alabama Legislature (ALISON) · alison.legislature.state.al.us · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    (10) Amount owed by an insurer on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity that has matured or terminated, three years after the obligation to pay arose or, in the case of a policy or annuity payable upon proof of death, three years after the insured has attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve is based.

    a. Any funds, two years after the date of the demutualization or reorganization, if the funds remain unclaimed, and the owner has not otherwise communicated with the holder or its agent regarding the property as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file with the holder or its agent.

11. K.S.A. 58-3935, Property presumed abandoned; when; general rule Kansas Office of Revisor of Statutes · ksrevisor.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    (7) amount owed by an insurer on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity that has matured or terminated, three years after the obligation to pay arose

    (A) Any check or draft, two years after the date of the demutualization or reorganization, if the check or draft has not been presented for payment and the owner has not otherwise communicated with the holder or its agent regarding the property;

12. Iowa Code 2026, Chapter 556, Disposition of Unclaimed Property (PDF) Iowa Legislature · legis.iowa.gov · Iowa Code 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    means all moneys held and owing by any life insurance corporation unclaimed and unpaid for more than three years after the moneys became due and payable

    Property distributable in the course of demutualization or related reorganization of an insurance company occurring on or after January 1, 2003, that remains unclaimed is deemed abandoned two years after the earlier of:

13. La. R.S. 9:154 Louisiana State Legislature · legis.la.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    (7) Amount owed by an insurer on a life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract that has matured or terminated, three years after the obligation to pay arose

    (17) Property distributable in the course of a demutualization, rehabilitation, or related reorganization of an insurance company, two years after the date of the demutualization or other event covered in this Paragraph

14. N.D.C.C. chapter 47-30.2, Revised Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (PDF) North Dakota Legislative Branch · legis.nd.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, three years after the obligation to pay arose under the terms of the policy or contract

    c. The company conducts a comparison for any purpose between a death master file and the names of some or all of the company's insureds or annuitants, finds a match that provides notice that the insured or annuitant has died, and validates the death; or

    b. The death master file match does not constitute proof of death for the purpose of submission to an insurance company of a claim by a beneficiary, annuitant, or

    c. The death master file match or validation of the insured's or annuitant's death does not alter the requirements for a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract to make a claim to receive proceeds under the terms of the policy or contract.

15. Maryland Code, Commercial Law § 17-302.1 Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    (2) A death master file match or validation of the insured’s or annuitant’s death does not alter the requirements for a beneficiary, annuitant, or owner of the policy or contract to make a claim to receive proceeds under the terms of the policy or contract.

16. Maryland Code, Commercial Law § 17-302 Maryland General Assembly · mgaleg.maryland.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    (a) Funds held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract that has matured or terminated are presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than 3 years after the funds first become due and payable in accordance with:

17. Oklahoma Statutes Title 60 (Property), Uniform Unclaimed Property Act, 60 O.S. §§651-688 (PDF) Oklahoma Legislative Service Bureau · oklegislature.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    Funds held or owing under any life or endowment insurance policy or annuity contract that has matured or terminated are presumed abandoned if unclaimed for more than five (5) years after the funds became due and payable as established from the records of the insurance company holding or owing the funds,

    1. Any funds, two (2) years after the date of the demutualization or reorganization,

18. Delaware Code Title 12, Chapter 11, Subchapter II. Unclaimed Property (§§ 1130-1191) Delaware General Assembly, Delaware Code Online · delcode.delaware.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (3)

    (7) a. An amount owed by an insurance company on a life or endowment insurance policy or an annuity contract that has matured or terminated, upon 1 of the following:

    1. Five years after knowledge of death of the insured.

    2. One year after the date the insured has attained, or would have attained if living, the limiting age under the mortality table on which the reserve is based in the case of a policy or annuity payable upon death where the obligation to pay did not arise under paragraph (7)a.1. of this section.

19. Delaware v. Pennsylvania, 598 U.S. 115 (2023), opinion Supreme Court of the United States · supremecourt.gov · Feb. 28, 2023 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    To resolve the competing claims, we established that, as the primary (default) rule, the proceeds of abandoned financial products should escheat “to the State of the creditor's last known address as shown by the debtor's books and records.”

    adopted a secondary rule to apply in those circumstances; namely, that the proceeds should escheat to the debtor's State of incorporation.

20. Publication 550 (2025), Investment Income and Expenses Internal Revenue Service · irs.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    A life insurance company may change from a mutual company to a stock company. This is commonly called demutualization. If you were a policyholder or annuitant of the mutual company, you may have received either stock in the stock company or cash in exchange for your equity interest in the mutual company.

21. Minnesota Statutes chapter 345, Unclaimed Property (full chapter) Minnesota Office of the Revisor of Statutes · revisor.mn.gov · 2026 Minnesota Statutes · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    The commissioner may proceed with the liquidation after holding for one year, with the exception of securities being held as the result of an insurance company demutualization, these types of securities may be sold upon receipt.

22. Unclaimed Property Law and Regulations (PDF) California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · February 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    (d) The report shall be filed before November 1 of each year as of June 30 or fiscal yearend next preceding, but the report of life insurance corporations, and the report of all insurance corporation demutualization proceeds subject to Section 1515.5, shall be filed before May 1 of each year as of December 31 next preceding.

23. Código de Seguros de Puerto Rico, Ley Núm. 77-1957, Capítulo 26 (Fondos no Reclamados) (PDF) Oficina de Gerencia y Presupuesto de Puerto Rico, Biblioteca Virtual · bvirtualogp.pr.gov · Rev. 21 de agosto de 2026 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (3)

    que no hayan sido reclamados ni pagados dentro de un término de a cinco (5) años o más

    Cualquier persona que alegue tener derecho a fondos no reclamados pagados al Comisionado podrá hacer una reclamación ante el Comisionado dentro del término de un (1) ano a partir de la fecha de entrega al Comisionado de dichos fondos no reclamados.

    Cualesquiera fondos no reclamados dentro del término aquí establecido pasarán a ser propiedad del Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico.

24. Resolution supporting the importance of ensuring that unclaimed property laws concerning unclaimed death benefits due under life insurance policies adequately protect consumers (PDF) National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators (NAUPA), via NAST · nast.org · Approved 2018, renewed 2021 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (2)

    (1) clarify that the dormancy period for benefits that mature upon death begins to run on the date of death of the insured;

    (3) clarify that a death certificate is not required to have been presented to the holder by the owner in order for property to be considered payable under the act;

25. Guidelines for Claiming Unclaimed Property (PDF) California State Controller's Office · sco.ca.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (4)

    Life Insurance Accounts

    Insurance policy; or

    Insurance statement.

    If the items above are not available, claimants are required to show proof of residence or occupancy at the address shown on the account as reported to the State Controller.

26. Unclaimed Property Process Report (PDF) Minnesota Department of Commerce (Minnesota Legislative Reference Library copy) · lrl.mn.gov · Feb. 15, 2018 · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    If the insured is still living, funds are payable to insured only (beneficiary status does not matter).

27. Policy Guidance: Reporting Standards for Fiduciary Accounts; Reporting of Life Insurance Proceeds (PDF) Pennsylvania Treasury Department · searchandclaimpa.gov · undated; covers the 2016 amendments · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    The new amendment directs that the proceeds of the policy are to be reported as unclaimed property three (3) years following knowledge of the death of the insured, when the beneficiaries of a deceased insured cannot be found.

28. Wyoming Statutes Title 34, Chapter 24, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act (PDF) Wyoming Legislature · wyoleg.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    are deemed abandoned if unclaimed for more than five (5) years after the funds became due and payable

29. Alaska Statutes AS 34.45, Uniform Unclaimed Property Act Alaska State Legislature · akleg.gov · checked Nov. 3, 2026
    Quoted text (1)

    The following property distributable in the course of a demutualization or related reorganization of an insurance company is considered abandoned two years after the date of demutualization or reorganization as follows: