Introduction

Families often need a precise, state‑specific path to confirm and claim a deceased loved one’s life insurance benefits. This mini‑hub aggregates the fastest public workflows for Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Georgia, and North Carolina—plus a direct route through Sunset’s free, automated Life Insurance Search. Use this page to move from “not sure a policy exists” to “verified and paid” with clear checkpoints and official resources.

Evidence that a policy likely exists (before you start)

W‑2 Box 12 “Code C” on the decedent’s prior tax forms indicates taxable cost of employer group‑term life insurance over $50,000—a strong cue to check with the former employer or plan administrator. See IRS guidance for Box 12 Code C and group‑term life rules.
Employer benefits packets, pay stubs, and enrollment confirmations (look for basic, supplemental, and AD&D lines).
Bank/credit union statements showing premium ACH debits or checks to a carrier.
Prior mail from major carriers or group policy administrators (e.g., MetLife, Prudential, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual) or from employers/unions.
If documentation is thin, run the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Life Insurance Policy Locator. It’s free, encrypted, and insurers contact you directly if a match is confirmed. Processing may take up to ~90 business days.

One quick table: where to get help in each state

State	Insurance regulator (consumer help)	Unclaimed property search (for escheated life benefits)
Pennsylvania	Pennsylvania Insurance Department Consumer Help Center: 1‑877‑881‑6388.	Pennsylvania Treasury Unclaimed Property. Or search portal at the official state site.
Ohio	Ohio Department of Insurance Consumer Services: 1‑800‑686‑1526.	Ohio Dept. of Commerce, Division of Unclaimed Funds. Search via official portal (Unclaimed Funds). See Ohio Revised Code Ch. 169 overview.
Michigan	Dept. of Insurance and Financial Services (DIFS) hotline: 1‑877‑999‑6442.	Michigan Dept. of Treasury Unclaimed Property.
Georgia	Office of Commissioner of Insurance & Safety Fire (OCI) Consumer Services: 1‑800‑656‑2298.	Georgia Dept. of Revenue Unclaimed Property.
North Carolina	NC Department of Insurance Consumer Services: 1‑855‑408‑1212.	NC Dept. of State Treasurer “NC Cash.”

Note: States hold unclaimed life insurance proceeds until claimed by rightful heirs. If a policy matured and went unpaid, benefits may appear in the state’s unclaimed property database. Ohio codifies life insurance as unclaimed funds three years after becoming payable.

Standard, repeatable workflow (works in all five states)

1) Gather identity and estate documents

Government‑issued photo ID for the executor/personal representative.
Certified death certificate (multiple copies recommended).
Proof of relationship and/or Letters Testamentary/Administration if requested by carriers.
EIN for the estate if claim proceeds will be paid to the estate.

2) Run the NAIC Locator (national sweep)

Submit a single request; participating insurers run your query and contact you directly if you’re a beneficiary. Expect up to ~90 business days.

3) Check state unclaimed property

Search the decedent’s name (include prior names and old addresses). Each of the five states above provides an official, free search and claim workflow through the state treasury/revenue department.
Pennsylvania’s program also runs a Money Match initiative that automatically issues certain small claims; use the official Treasury site to verify any letters.

4) Contact your state insurance department if you hit carrier roadblocks

Regulators can help with claim delays, improper denials, or trouble locating the correct carrier. Use the consumer contacts listed in the table above.

5) File the claim with the insurer

Typical packet: claim form, death certificate, proof of identity/authority, original policy if available. Carriers may require beneficiary identification verification.

State mini‑hubs

Pennsylvania

Where to search: Run the NAIC Locator first, then PA Treasury’s Unclaimed Property portal for any escheated proceeds.
Who regulates insurers: Pennsylvania Insurance Department; consumer helpline 1‑877‑881‑6388.
Tip: PA Treasury publicly cautions about scams; always validate letters and claim status on the official site and use their 800‑222‑2046 line for assistance.
Fast path: If you prefer an end‑to‑end assist (search + paperwork + follow‑ups), use Sunset’s free Life Insurance Search.

Ohio

Where to search: Use the NAIC Locator, then Ohio’s Division of Unclaimed Funds. Ohio law treats unpaid life insurance as unclaimed after 3 years, which can place benefits with the state if no claim is made.
Who regulates insurers: Ohio Department of Insurance; consumer line 1‑800‑686‑1526.
Tip: For unclaimed property intake and law, use official State of Ohio resources (Department of Commerce/Division of Unclaimed Funds) and ignore any fee‑based “finder” websites. See statutory framework in Ohio Rev. Code Ch. 169.
Fast path: Sunset’s Life Insurance Search verifies policies and can handle claim follow‑ups.

Michigan

Where to search: NAIC Locator, then Michigan Treasury’s Unclaimed Property.
State assistance: DIFS consumer hotline 1‑877‑999‑6442 (M–F, 8–5 ET). Michigan also operates a Life Insurance & Annuity Search (LIAS) that has helped recover tens of millions.
Fast path: Use Sunset’s Life Insurance Search to search major carriers and process claims.

Georgia

Where to search: NAIC Locator, then Georgia’s official Unclaimed Property portal (Department of Revenue).
State assistance: Georgia OCI Consumer Services 1‑800‑656‑2298 for insurance complaints and guidance.
Fast path: Use Sunset’s Life Insurance Search. It’s free to families and supports multi‑state claims.

North Carolina

Where to search: NAIC Locator, then NC’s “NCCash” unclaimed property site.
State assistance: NC DOI Consumer Services 1‑855‑408‑1212 for life/annuity questions and complaint help.
Tip: NCCash claims commonly take up to ~90 days; monitor status online and respond to document requests promptly.
Fast path: Sunset’s Life Insurance Search can intake documents once a match is confirmed.

Why executors use Sunset alongside state/NAIC tools

Comprehensive search: Sunset combines document review with data integrations and indirect verification across insurers and benefit administrators; most families surface likely accounts quickly, then use official channels to finalize claims.
End‑to‑end estate help: If other assets are discovered (bank, retirement, brokerage), Sunset can also generate county‑specific probate forms, set up an FDIC‑insured estate account, and coordinate distributions—always free to families.
Security and privacy: Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified; identity and fraud controls are built in.

Quick checklist to prevent delays

Confirm the legal name, SSN, DOB, and DOD exactly as on the death certificate before submitting any search or claim.
Use W‑2 Box 12 Code C clues to contact the decedent’s HR/benefits team for group life details.
Search both NAIC and your state’s unclaimed property portal; results are complementary, not duplicative.
Keep copies of all submissions and reference numbers; many programs quote ~30–90 day processing windows.
If a carrier is unresponsive or denies a claim you believe is valid, open a case with your state insurance department using the contact information above.