How do I find out if a deceased relative had life insurance?

Question

José Manuel Alburquerque · Accepted Answer

Apply for the certificate from the “Registro de Contratos de Seguros con Cobertura de Fallecimiento”, Spain's register of insurance policies with death cover, which is issued by the “Ministerio de Justicia”, the Spanish Ministry of Justice. Any interested party can apply for it once 15 working days have passed since the death, online, by appointment or by post, for a fee of a few euros. The certificate shows under which life or personal accident insurance policies the deceased was insured and with which companies, but not who the beneficiary is or how much they cover. That has to be asked of each insurer, which is under no obligation to look for the beneficiaries. How to apply for it Online, through the Ministry of Justice's electronic office, with Cl@ve (the Spanish government's online identification system) and payment of the fee over the internet. This is only possible if the death occurred after 2 April 2009 and is not registered at a justice of the peace court (“juzgado de paz”). In person, by appointment at the Ministry of Justice's regional offices (“gerencias territoriales”), or by post, with the original fee form and, where an online application is not accepted, the full death certificate. The Ministry has seven working days to issue it, although it is normally available within one to three days. Once it is available, there are 90 days to download it. At the same time, apply for the certificate of last wills from the “Registro General de Actos de Última Voluntad”, Spain's register of wills, which shows whether there was a will and before which notary it was made. Insurers usually ask for both before paying. The data are kept for five years from the death, so do not put it off. What to do with the certificate The certificate only shows which policies there were and with which companies. It does not say who the beneficiary is or how much is paid out. Write to each company listed, enclosing the death certificate, to ask whether you are a beneficiary. If you are not, the company will only tell you that, without giving you any further details. The fact that a policy is listed does not mean that you have anything to receive. The beneficiary may be someone else or the policy may not cover that death. If the certificate shows nothing There may still be a policy. The certificate does not show the policies with which employers cover their pension commitments, those of some company mutual societies or professional associations, those the insurer reported without the insured's identity number (“DNI”) or, probably, those in which the bank is both policyholder and beneficiary, such as some linked to loans. Nor does it show the personal accident insurance obtained by paying for a trip by card, as long as nobody has notified the insurer of a claim. Check the bank statements for premium payments, the mortgage deed and the loan and card agreements. Also ask at the company where the deceased worked, because the collective agreement may include life or personal accident insurance.