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If someone passes away, and family had been told that there was a small life insurance policy, how does one find out which company the policy is with? We have checked the banking records and paperwork and can't find any leads, as the family was told it was one of the policies where you only pay premiums for a while, then it pays for itself. This policy would probably be older, so we have no idea where to start. Also, the family was told there was a will, but none was found in the person's paperwork, or with any lawyer that the person had dealt with in the last 20 years for other legal dealings. Any tips on where to start looking next? There was no money, so hiring a lawyer to research this isn't really an option. Thanks!

I am a broker and have had difficulty finding out information when I knew the company that the person had the policy with, let alone trying to find out which company... I suggest going to your life insurance agent (if you have one - if you don't that's another conversation) and asking him/her to do some asking for you. They may not be able to get any information, but they may be able to get the company to contact the "agent of record" for that person's policy and the process would continue from there. Many independent brokers may be able to ask several companies at once through their MGA.

you can call the law society and they will tell you what lawyer holds the will.

Can help u with the insurance companies.

Johnbisonbear said "you can call the law society and they will tell you what lawyer holds the will. "

If the lawyer is still practicing, was part of a firm that remains in existence, or sold their practice to another lawyer privately, the Law Society is not likely to know where the will went. If the lawyer died or folded up shop and the Law Society had to step in and take over the files, which is rare, the Law Society will know where the wills went because they have a firm on retainer that parcels out the files.  
 
The Law Society does not hold a general registry of wills in the Province.  
 
If you think there may be a will, you can call around to the firms in the community the person lived in to see if they have one, but they will only tell you if you are the executor. Otherwise, you should retain a lawyer who can advertise in the local legal publications looking for a lost will.

Des said "    Johnbisonbear said "you can call the law society and they will tell you what lawyer holds the will. " If the lawyer is still practicing, was part of a firm that remains in existence, or sold their practice to another lawyer privately, the Law Society is not likely to know where the will went. If the lawyer died or folded up shop and the Law Society had to step in and take over the files, which is rare, the Law Society will know where the wills went because they have a firm on retainer that parcels out the files.     The Law Society does not hold a general registry of wills in the Province.     If you think there may be a will, you can call around to the firms in the community the person lived in to see if they have one, but they will only tell you if you are the executor. Otherwise, you should retain a lawyer who can advertise in the local legal publications looking for a lost will. "

We had to find a will, called a couple of offices as the lawyer that was used did not practice any more. Was advised to call the Law society. Turns out the lawyer that files were transferred to died and then all of his files were transferred to another firm. So yes call the Law society!