Life insurance
Insurer claims team with death certificate and grant if required by policy terms
Some steps differ by region inside the country.
Where
Each insurer's claims department, the broker who arranged it, and the employer for cover provided at work.
How
Scan 12 months of statements for premium payments to identify every insurer.
Ask the employer about death in service cover, which is separate from any personal policy.
Check whether the policy was written in trust, because it then pays directly to the beneficiaries without probate and outside the estate for Inheritance Tax.
If you suspect a policy but cannot trace it, ask the Unclaimed Assets Register or the insurer's trade body for help.
What to bring
A certified copy of the death certificate
Policy numbers
Your ID and proof of relationship
The grant of probate, unless the policy is in trust
Timing
Straightforward claims are commonly paid within 2 to 8 weeks.
This is practical information, not legal, medical, or financial advice.