Can’t find a loved one’s life insurance policy? We can help

Have you ever wondered if a loved one who passed away had a life insurance policy? Or perhaps you’ve searched all over the place looking for a relative’s insurance policy.

We have a locator service that can answer your question. If indeed your loved one did have a policy, we can help you find it.

The Department of Insurance has a Lost Life Insurance and Annuity Inquiry Service to help consumers locate benefits from life insurance policies or annuity contracts purchased in North Carolina.

If you’re an executor or legal representative of a deceased person, or if you believe you are a beneficiary of a life insurance policy, you may submit an inquiry form with the Department of Insurance. Then, we’ll help you search for the policy.

Our program works! Last year, the Department of Insurance helped North Carolinians recover $65.9 million in life insurance benefits.

People purchase life insurance for several reasons. They may want to:

— Allow a surviving spouse to continue to have a comfortable standard of living.

— Make retirement more comfortable.

— Provide for a child’s education.

— Pay for funeral expenses.

— Pay for medical bills.

— Pay off a mortgage so surviving family members don’t have to worry about having a roof over their head.

— Pay off other outstanding debts.

Whatever the reason for taking out a life insurance policy, beneficiaries expect to be able to receive those benefits when a loved one dies.

However, the life insurance policy may have been taken out years ago, or perhaps even decades ago. Families may have moved over the years. The policy may have been misplaced, or

even accidentally thrown away. Searching through desk drawers or filing cabinets may yield no results.

You can find the Lost Life Insurance and Annuity Inquiry Service on the Department of Insurance’s web page at www.ncdoi.gov. Click on the “Assistance/Complaints” tab and then click on the “Lost Life Insurance” tab. It’s the one with the magnifying glass/search icon.

After agreeing to the terms and conditions, you will be asked to provide some information about yourself and the deceased.

If you’re having trouble or need assistance, you can call our toll-free number at 855-408-1212 to speak to one of our consumer specialists. Please call between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. weekdays.

Also, you can keep that toll-free number handy in case you have any other questions or issues regarding insurance.