Author
Bowtie Team
Updated on
2025-06-19
Disclaimer: This article is translated with the assistance of AI.
Losing a loved one is heartbreaking, but once the grief eases, sorting out their affairs, estate, and insurance becomes essential. If they had a life insurance policy, you can claim benefits for heirs—but what if details are unknown? Discover simple steps from the Bowtie insurance experts to verify and handle it smoothly.
How to Check If a Deceased Loved One Had Life Insurance?
If a loved one suddenly passes away without leaving any instructions, you can find out if they had a valid life insurance policy by exploring the following steps:
Belongings
When sorting through the deceased’s belongings, keep an eye out for letters from insurance companies, premium payment notices, original policies, or copies . These documents are often stored alongside bank statements, passbooks, certificates, and contracts. If you come across any policy-related papers with the insurance company’s name and policy number, you can reach out to that company for more details.
Mail and Emails
If the deceased kept their mail, sift through it to look for any letters from insurance companies ; if you have access to their mailbox key, check there too. For eco-friendly reasons, many insurance companies or banks now use email for statements and notifications, so if you know their email password, log in and search for emails from insurance providers.
Insurance Intermediaries
If you know any insurance intermediaries (brokers or agents) who were close to the deceased, reach out to them to ask if the deceased purchased life insurance through them . Even if you’re unsure, check the deceased’s phone messages or contacts for clues. Also, look around their home or office for gifts like calendars or wall planners from intermediaries – if found, note any contact details, or use the insurance company’s info on them for further inquiries.
Contacting Insurance Companies
If the above methods don’t reveal the insurance company, but you’re certain the deceased had life insurance, your last option is to contact insurance companies one by one via phone, email, or mail .
What Documents Are Needed to Inquire and Claim from an Insurance Company?
Whether you’re inquiring with an insurance company about whether the deceased had a policy there, or you’re ready to claim on a confirmed life insurance policy, it’s helpful to prepare the following documents to provide:
- The deceased’s (policyholder’s) identification documents
- The deceased’s (policyholder’s) death certificate
- The beneficiary’s identification documents
- Proof of relationship between the beneficiary and the deceased (policyholder), such as birth certificates or marriage certificates
- The original policy document (if available)
- A policy loss declaration form (for cases where the policy is lost)
- * Each insurance company may require different documents or procedures, and the final arrangements will be subject to the policies of the relevant insurance company.
Contact Info of Authorized Insurance Companies in Hong Kong
If you’re unsure which insurance company your deceased relative purchased life insurance from, you’ll have to check with each one individually. The Insurance Authority’s website has a Register of Insurance Companies , which includes addresses, phone numbers, websites, and emails for major insurance companies.
Bowtie Contact Information
- Email: cs@bowtie.com.hk
- Phone Hotline and WhatsApp: 3008 8123
- Address: 1st Floor, Empress Plaza, 58-64 Queensway, Wan Chai, Hong Kong
What Type of Insurance Did Your Loved One Purchase?
Even after confirming the insurance company that issued your deceased relative’s policy, you need to verify if it’s a life insurance policy. The insurance market is packed with options, from things like auto, home, and travel insurance to more specific ones such as medical insurance, life insurance, Term CI, and accident insurance.
Among these, generally only life insurance provides a lump-sum payout to beneficiaries upon the insured’s death. Other products, like medical insurance or Term CI, might offer some death benefits, but since death isn’t their main focus, the payouts are often on the modest side.
Does the Life Insurance Policy Specify a Beneficiary?
Once you’ve identified the insurance company and confirmed it’s a life insurance policy, the next step is to check with them if your deceased relative designated a beneficiary for the policy.
- If a beneficiary was specified, the life insurance payout won’t be treated as part of the estate, so it bypasses the probate process.
- If no beneficiary was named or if the designated one has passed away, the payout will be considered part of the estate.
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