Find the will, the insurance and the money
The search is scattered across courts, insurers, employers and state offices. The Search Kit puts it in order for your state and keeps track of what you find.
Most of this search happens at home
A will in a desk, a premium on a bank statement or an old pension letter can start everything. We tell you what to look for, then where to ask.
Each step tells you why it matters, what to do and which official office to use. If a rule in your state couldn't be checked at the source, the step says so and tells you who to ask.
What you search, in order
Get ready to search
Two things that make every other search easier.
2 steps
Find the will
Where people keep wills, who to ask, and what to do with the original.
6 steps
Check for a trust
A trust can hold the house and accounts, and never goes through probate.
3 steps
Find life insurance
Free searches first, then the people and papers that often know.
9 steps
Find money and accounts
State treasuries, pensions, retirement plans, bonds and old bank accounts.
9 steps
Protect their identity
Stop new credit and cut the mail that invites fraud.
4 steps
Report the death and settle up
The offices that need to hear from you.
3 steps
12 letters, filled in for you
We put their name, dates and your details in each letter. You check it, sign it and mail it.
Life insurance inquiry
Ask a company whether they held a policy.
Former employer benefits inquiry
Ask about group life insurance, wages, pension and retirement plans.
Letter to their lawyer
Ask whether a lawyer holds the will or trust.
Note to local lawyers
When you have no name, ask nearby firms whether they knew the person.
Probate court inquiry
Ask whether a will is on file or a case was opened.
Bank and safe deposit inquiry
Ask about accounts and any safe deposit box.
Credit bureau death notice
Mark their credit file as deceased. Free with any account.
Accountant or advisor inquiry
Advisors often know the lawyer, the accounts and the policies.
Retirement plan inquiry
Ask a plan about benefits and the named beneficiary.
Pension inquiry
Ask about a pension from a plan that ended or a company that was sold.
General account closing notice
Close a subscription, card, phone or utility account.
Newspaper obituary submission
Send your obituary to a paper, with what it usually asks for.
Share with family
Invite up to 10 people, so two of you don't call the same bank twice.
Store papers safely
Upload copies of certificates and replies. They're encrypted before they're stored.
Track every lead
Note each policy or account, what happened and what comes next.
Remember the dates
We list dates that may apply and email you 14 days before.
Choose how much help you want
Free
For the first days
- Obituary writer with three drafts
- Funeral program PDF
- Personalized checklist for your state
- All search steps to read and tick off
- One letter, the credit bureau notice
- Track up to three items you find
Search Kit
You do the search, with everything in order
- All 12 letters, filled in and ready to sign
- Tracker for every policy, account and lead
- Encrypted document storage
- Invite up to 10 family members
- Reminder emails for key dates
- A printable report to share with a lawyer
- 30-day refund
Search Service
We run the search with you
- Everything in the Search Kit
- We run the searches we can do for you
- We prepare the letters for you to sign
- A written report of what we found and what is left
- A real person answers your questions
- Refundable until work starts
There's no rush
Most searches work just as well in a month. You can start with the free checklist.
See the free checklist