Generally it is the job of family members to notify the insurance company of a policy owner's death. More than one-quarter of all life insurance policy benefits go unclaimed on death of the insured, because family members simply aren't aware a policy exists.

Policyholders may also be entitled to an unexpected windfall. As a growing number of mutual life insurance companies - including MetLife, John Hancock, Prudential and others - have converted to stock ownership, millions of current and former policyholders and heirs are entitled to receive stock and cash, in addition to policy benefits.

When John Hancock demutualized, it did not have current addresses for 400,000 policyholders. Prudential could not locate 1.2 million policyholders, and sixty million shares of MetLife arising from its demutualization went unclaimed.

By law, unclaimed policy benefits and demutualization compensation are held in trust until claimants come forward. Last year alone, trustees took custody of $22.8 billion, of which less than $1 billion was claimed.

If you have reason to believe a policy exists but have not received payment, complete the form below to initiate a search.