Feb. 19, 2007

My grandmother bought a life insurance policy years ago. She passed away last year and we have just found the documents, but can't find anything out about the company. Where can I search to see if they are still in business or if they were purchased by a larger company?

Suzanne, Arizona

Dear Suzanne,

The department of insurance (DOI) in the state where the policy was purchased should know what happened to the company; it may have been bought by another insurer, changed its name, or gone out of business. The DOI can help you locate the insurer. You can find contact information by choosing the state from the menu on the top right of any Insure.com page.

Don't worry if you discover that the insurance company has gone out of business. Most states have a guaranty fund that covers claims on insurance policies issued by an insurer that has since gone bankrupt. For more information, read What happens when your insurance company goes belly-up.

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Disclaimer: We are journalists, not financial planners or insurance brokers. Nothing we say should be interpreted as a recommendation to buy or sell any insurance product, or to provide other financial or legal advice.