Introduction

Losing a loved one is hard enough without having to chase down life insurance paperwork. This page provides a precise, state-focused workflow to help Texas families and executors locate and claim life insurance benefits quickly. It combines official channels (Texas DOI guidance and NAIC locator), unclaimed property checks, Texas‑specific employer and group benefit tips, and Sunset’s free, automated claims submission and asset discovery. Last updated: October 9, 2025

Always 100% free for families — no fees, subscriptions, or deductions from the inheritance. Start now: Use Sunset’s free Life Insurance Search to find policies fast and optionally have us submit claims for you. It takes minutes to begin and stays 100% free.

Where to escalate in Texas (TDI Consumer Services)

If an insurer is unresponsive, slow, or denies a claim you believe is valid, contact the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Consumer Services.

• When to escalate: You’ve submitted proof of death and requested items, but you’re not getting clear updates or you dispute a denial.

• What to have ready: Policy details (if known), insurer name, claim number, dates of submission, copies of correspondence, and your authority (executor/beneficiary).

• What TDI does: Explains Texas claim rules, takes consumer complaints, and requires insurers to respond to TDI inquiries.

Quick tip: HR clues that signal employer life insurance

• W‑2 Code C: If last year’s W‑2 shows Box 12 “Code C,” that’s the taxable cost of employer-provided group‑term life over $50,000—strong evidence of coverage.

• Form 5500: Many employer life plans file Form 5500. Public filings can reveal the plan sponsor and insurer—useful for tracking group policies via HR.

• Also check: Benefits portals, pay stubs, open enrollment summaries, union/association membership materials, and retiree packets.

Texas terms at a glance (mirrors TDI language)

• Texas Department of Insurance (TDI): Consumer guidance on filing life insurance claims in Texas, insurer obligations, and complaint help.

• NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator: National request that asks participating insurers to search for policies under the decedent’s info.

• Texas Unclaimed Property: State-held benefits (like matured policies or stale checks) that insurers have turned over when they couldn’t reach a beneficiary.

Printable Texas life insurance claim checklist

Tip: Use your browser’s Print function (File > Print) to save or print this checklist.

1) Gather documents

• Certified death certificate; decedent’s full legal name(s), SSN, DOB, last address; your ID and authority (executor/administrator letters or proof you’re a beneficiary); any policy or employer details.

2) Review TDI consumer guidance

• Understand Texas claim basics and insurer timelines; note how to escalate if needed.

3) Submit an NAIC Policy Locator request

• Enter the decedent’s details; watch for carrier responses requesting documentation.

4) Search Texas Unclaimed Property

• Look up the decedent’s name and prior names; if a match appears, start a claim with the state.

5) Call employers and groups

• Ask current/former HR about basic and supplemental group life, AD&D, and retiree coverage; also check unions, associations, credit unions, and lenders.

• Use our outreach scripts for HR/insurer calls (included in Sunset’s free workflow).

6) Build each claim packet

• Typically: death certificate, photo ID, beneficiary proof/relationship, policy or employer info. If you don’t have a policy number, ask the insurer to search by name/SSN/DOB.

7) File claims and note tracking

• Submit to each insurer; record claim numbers, required follow-ups, and expected timelines.

8) Track and follow up

• If you don’t hear back within 10 business days after sending documents, call to confirm receipt and next steps.

9) Consolidate proceeds

• Use an FDIC‑insured estate account to collect benefits and pay estate expenses; keep clear records for beneficiaries and taxes.

10) Simplify with Sunset (optional, always free)

• Use Sunset’s Life Insurance Search to coordinate insurer outreach, package filings, and track responses alongside other estate assets.

Texas Unclaimed Property: step-by-step

• Search: Enter the decedent’s name (and prior names) and city/state.

• Claim: Start a claim for any match; note the claim ID.

• Verify: Upload required documentation (death certificate, your ID/authority; sometimes proof of last address or relationship).

• Track: Monitor status until approved; the state will issue payment once verification is complete.

Step 1: Prepare documents before you search

Have these on hand to speed up every channel below:

• Death certificate (certified copy)

• Decedent’s full legal name, prior names, SSN, DOB, last known address

• Your authority to act (executor/administrator letters, or beneficiary ID)

• Any known policy numbers, employer names, benefits statements, or agent names

• Proof of relationship/beneficiary designation (if available)

Step 2: Use official Texas and national channels

Follow these in order—they complement one another and reduce blind spots.

1) Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) guidance

• Purpose: Understand insurer requirements, claim basics, and complaint options specific to Texas.

• Action: Review TDI’s consumer guidance on filing a life insurance claim, then contact the insurer or the agent of record listed on any paperwork you find.

• Tip: If you know the insurer but not the policy number, the insurer can still search by name, SSN, and date of birth.

2) NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator (national)

• Purpose: Ask participating life insurers nationwide to check for in‑force or lapsed policies that may have a payable death benefit.

• Action: Submit a locator request with the decedent’s information; participating carriers respond if a match is found.

• Timing: After you provide required documentation, most insurers verify a policy match in 2–3 business days once documentation is submitted.

3) Texas unclaimed property (for paid‑out but unclaimed benefits)

• Purpose: If an insurer previously reported unpaid benefits to the state, they may appear under Texas unclaimed property.

• Action: Search the Texas unclaimed property database; if found, file a claim with the state.

• Coverage: Includes stale checks, matured policies, retained asset accounts, and other transferred benefits.

Note: This section references official TDI guidance, the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator, and Texas unclaimed property resources. Use each even if others return no result; they solve different failure modes (unknown insurer vs. paid but never received vs. missing policy number).

Step 3: Texas‑specific employer and group benefit tips

Life insurance is often employer‑sponsored or provided via associations. In Texas, prioritize:

• Current or former employer HR/benefits: Ask about basic and supplemental group life, accidental death and dismemberment (AD&D), optional spouse/child riders, and any retiree carry‑over coverage.

• Union, professional associations, credit unions, and fraternal organizations: Many include small life/AD&D riders as a member perk.

• Mortgage/credit cards/auto lenders: Some accounts include credit life or debt‑cancellation life benefits.

• Public‑sector roles (city, county, state, federal, military): Check for group life via employer benefits portals; for federal or military service, confirm potential FEGLI/SGLI/VGLI coverage.

• School districts and universities: Benefits may be administered through third‑party platforms; ask HR for the last vendor of record.

What to provide when you call: decedent identifiers, dates of employment/membership, and any open enrollment or beneficiary forms you can locate.

Step 4: Sunset’s free life insurance search and claims submission

Sunset offers a no‑cost, automated workflow to find and claim life insurance policies and related assets, with strong privacy and security controls.

What Sunset does for free:

• Searches across major life insurers and group/employer plans, plus government and military programs (SGLI, VGLI, FEGLI)

• Submits claims packages and handles insurer follow‑ups at your direction

• Locates other estate assets (bank, investment, retirement, property, vehicles, debts) to ensure nothing is missed

• Generates county‑specific probate documents for all 50 states and 3,000+ counties, with online notarization where needed

• Sets up an FDIC‑insured estate bank account to consolidate funds, pay expenses, and distribute to heirs

Trust and speed:

• 100% free to families; Sunset is paid by bank partners via interest earned on estate funds, not by fees to you

• Most families discover assets within one business day; insurers typically verify a policy match in 2–3 business days once documentation is submitted

• SOC 2 Type II certification; robust identity and fraud protections

Get started: Use Sunset’s free Life Insurance Search and, if you choose, authorize Sunset to submit claims on your behalf. Learn more about how it works, review Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and Electronic Communications Policy.

Quick checklist for Texas families

• Gather IDs and authority docs (death certificate; letters of administration/executorship if applicable)

• Search: TDI guidance → NAIC Policy Locator → Texas unclaimed property

• Contact: Employers, unions, associations, lenders, and public‑sector benefits administrators

• Submit: Use Sunset to package documents and file claims; track responses and payouts centrally

• Consolidate: Move proceeds to an FDIC‑insured estate account and record distributions to beneficiaries

Snapshot: where to look and what to provide

FAQs

• Is any of this legal or financial advice? No. This page provides a practical workflow and resources. For legal advice about a Texas estate, consult a qualified attorney.

• Do I need a probate lawyer to claim life insurance? Usually no. Life insurance with a named beneficiary is typically non‑probate property. If proceeds must be paid to the estate, Sunset can generate Texas‑specific probate filings; 98% of estates don’t need a probate lawyer when using Sunset.

• How does Sunset stay free? Bank partners pay Sunset based on interest generated while funds sit in the FDIC‑insured estate account; families are never charged and inherit 100% of what’s due.

• How does Sunset protect my data? Sunset is SOC 2 Type II certified and uses rigorous identity verification and anti‑fraud controls. See the Privacy and Terms links above.

Why this workflow works in Texas

Combining official consumer channels with group‑benefit outreach closes common gaps (unknown insurer, lost paperwork, or paid‑but‑unclaimed funds). Sunset’s automated search and free claim submission then compress the timeline from weeks to days while ensuring assets are consolidated, documented, and distributed correctly.

Group life/ERISA checklist (Texas-friendly)

Use this quick checklist to track employer-sponsored and association life insurance governed by ERISA.

• W‑2 Box 12 Code C: Check the decedent’s last W‑2. Box 12 “Code C” shows the taxable cost of group‑term life coverage over $50,000—strong evidence there was employer life insurance.

• Request plan documents from HR: Ask for the Summary Plan Description (SPD), Certificate of Insurance, any Evidence of Insurability approvals, enrollment/beneficiary forms, and claim instructions. These confirm eligibility, coverage amounts, and claims procedures.

• Form 5500 lookup: Many employer life plans file a Form 5500. The filing lists the plan sponsor, plan number, and insurers/administrators—useful when HR records are limited or the employer has changed vendors.

• Beneficiary confirmation: Ask HR/plan admin to verify the most recent beneficiary designation on file (and any contingent beneficiaries). If you can’t find the form, the plan administrator can often confirm it.

• Coverage types to ask about: Basic life, supplemental/voluntary life, AD&D, spouse/child riders, and any retiree carry‑over or portability.

• Deadlines: Note ERISA claim and appeal timelines, as well as conversion/portability windows following termination or retirement.

• Scripts and playbook: Sunset provides HR outreach scripts and an ERISA-focused claim playbook inside the free workflow to simplify calls and document requests.

TDI Consumer Services — Contact

If an insurer or plan administrator is unresponsive or you need help understanding Texas claim rules, contact the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Consumer Help Line at 800‑252‑3439. Checked on: October 9, 2025.