Will the insurer automatically know when I die?
Life insurance
The short answer
No. Insurers are not usually told automatically. Someone, such as your family, executor or trustees, needs to contact the insurer to make a claim. That is why it helps to keep your policy details somewhere safe and tell the people who would need them where to find them.
Make it easy for your family
Keep a list of your policies, insurers and adviser with your will.
Trusts
If your policy is in trust, make sure your trustees know about it.
If a policy cannot be found
Bank statements and insurer searches can help families trace policies.
Sources
This article is general information about UK protection insurance, not personalised financial advice. Policy terms vary between insurers and products, so always check your own policy documents.
Last updated 27 October 2026