How to find a lost insurance policy

You might think no one could lose track of a life insurance policy. Think again. At one point, it was estimated that at least $10 billion in life insurance policies nationwide had gone unclaimed or unpaid. Many families don't know if someone took out a life insurance policy. Or they don't know what company holds the policy. People may move around from one state to another and lose the paperwork. 
For the most part, the burden is on the beneficiary to follow through after a loved one passes to claim on a policy. 
To find out if there’s a policy out there, what you want to find is any kind of paper trail that might uncover a lost or little-known insurance policy for a deceased loved one. Where to look: Bank statements or old canceled checks could show payments that were made to life insurance companies over the years. Look for paperwork in lock boxes or safety deposit boxes. Ask family members, financial advisers and insurance agents about life insurance policies. Review copies of the deceased's tax returns for the past two years to spot any interest income or expense reported that relates to a life insurance policy. Check with any former employers of the deceased, as they may have information on group life coverage.
 Another option is the National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators or www.unclaimed.org to do a search. There’s also The National Association of Insurance Commissioners they have their own Life Insurance Policy Locator Service.
 Best thing to do is always let loved ones know if you have a policy and where that policy is.