Key Takeaways
- Start at home: files, desks, safes, recent mail, tax returns and bank statements reveal most accounts and policies.
- Ask the person’s attorney, accountant and financial advisor; attorneys often keep original wills.
- Use free tools: the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator and your state’s unclaimed property database (searchable through MissingMoney.com).
- Some states let people file their wills with the probate court for safekeeping.
- If no will turns up, the estate passes under state intestacy law.
Where to look first
Most people keep evidence of their finances close at hand. Look through:
- Desks, filing cabinets, safes and lockboxes
- Recent mail and email: statements, premium notices, tax forms
- Tax returns: Forms 1099 point to interest-bearing accounts and investments
- Bank statements: recurring payments can reveal insurance premiums, loans and subscriptions
- Phones and computers: banking apps and password managers, if you can access them legally
Finding the will
- Check the home for the original, often in a safe or with important papers.
- Contact the person’s attorney. Many lawyers keep original wills for clients.
- Check a safe deposit box. Banks have procedures for searching a box for a will; rules vary by state.
- Ask the probate court. Some states allow wills to be deposited with the court during the person’s lifetime.
- Ask family and close friends whether the person mentioned a will.
The probate court usually needs the original will, not a copy. See what is probate? and where people usually keep their wills.
Finding accounts and insurance
| What you’re looking for | Where to search | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance policies | NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator | Free; participating insurers search their records |
| Unclaimed bank accounts, refunds and uncashed checks | State unclaimed property offices, MissingMoney.com | Free; search every state the person lived in |
| Retirement plans from former employers | Former employers’ HR, plan administrators | Some old plans have been transferred or merged |
| Brokerage accounts | Tax forms 1099, statements, the person’s advisor | Advisors and accountants often know |
| Real estate | County property records | Search by the person’s name |
| U.S. savings bonds | U.S. Treasury’s online services | The Treasury offers tools to locate matured bonds |
If you can’t find a will
If no will exists, the estate passes under your state’s intestacy rules, and a court appoints an administrator. See what happens if you die without a will.
Make it easier for your own family
A one-page letter of instruction that lists where your will, accounts and policies are can save your family weeks of searching.
Frequently asked questions
Search their home and papers, contact their attorney, check any safe deposit box, and ask the local probate court whether a will was filed or deposited there.
Look for premium payments in bank statements, check mail and employer benefits, and use the free NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator.
Search the unclaimed property database in every state where the person lived, or use MissingMoney.com to search many states at once.
Rules vary by state. Many states let a family member or the executor search a box for a will or burial instructions, with a bank officer present, before probate begins.
Tell the probate court. A missing original can complicate probate, and state law decides whether a copy can be accepted.
Keep reading
- What to Do When Someone Dies: A Step-by-Step ChecklistA clear checklist for the first 24 hours, the first week and the months after a loved one dies: who to call, what documents you need and how the estate gets settled.
- How to Settle an Estate: An Executor’s ChecklistA step-by-step executor checklist for settling an estate: getting legal authority, notifying creditors, managing assets, paying taxes and distributing property.
- How Many Death Certificates Do You Need?Most families need several certified death certificates. See who requires a certified copy, how many to order, and how to get more later.
- Who to Notify When Someone Dies: A Complete ListA complete checklist of who to notify after a death: government agencies, banks, insurers, credit bureaus, employers, utilities and online accounts.
- Are You Responsible for a Parent’s Debts After They Die?In most cases, children don't inherit a parent's debts. Learn how debts are paid from the estate, the exceptions, and what to say when collectors call.
Don’t leave your family guessing
Put your health care wishes in writing with a living will, HIPAA release and medical authorization. The No Brainer Box adds a last will, a revocable trust and health care and financial powers of attorney.
- Answer a few simple questions online
- Download your completed, ready-to-sign forms
- Sign them and keep copies in your account
This guide is general educational information written by the No Brainer Forms Team. It is not legal advice, and No Brainer Forms is not a law firm. Laws and signing requirements vary by state; for advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.