A policy pays out when a claim is made, not by itself. Here is what to look for, who to write to and what they will ask for.
What to look for
A life policy (term or whole of life) with Irish Life, Zurich, Aviva, New Ireland, Royal London or another insurer. Look for policy documents, annual statements, or a direct debit on the bank statement to an insurer.
Mortgage protection. Anyone with a mortgage almost always has one; it pays the lender directly and clears the mortgage. Ask the bank that holds the mortgage.
A policy through the employer ("death in service" or "group life"). Ask the employer's HR department.
A credit union policy. Many credit unions insure members' savings and loans at no charge and pay a death benefit towards the funeral. Credit union savings and loans after a death.
A policy with a bank or an older company (a savings plan, an endowment, a funeral plan). Bank statements show the direct debits.
Accident or travel cover if the death was accidental.
How to claim
Write to the insurer's bereavement or claims team, giving the person's full name, date of birth, date of death, address and the policy number if you have it. If you do not have the number, the name, date of birth and address are enough for them to search.
They will ask for the death certificate (often an original or a certified copy), proof of the claimant's identity, and a claim form. Where the death was within the first years of the policy, or the cause is relevant to the policy terms, they may ask for a medical report.
They confirm who the money is payable to and pay it. A straightforward claim is often paid within a few weeks of the paperwork being complete.
Written in trust, or with named beneficiaries: the insurer pays those people directly. It does not form part of the estate, it does not wait for probate, and it is usually the quickest money a family receives.
Not in trust: the policy pays to the estate, and the executor distributes it under the will (or under the intestacy rules if there is no will). The insurer will want to see the Grant of Probate before paying, unless the sum is under their small-payment limit.
Mortgage protection: paid to the lender, which clears the mortgage; any balance over the mortgage goes to the estate.
Joint life policies (common with a mortgage) pay out on the first death and then end.
Tax
A life policy payout is not income and is not taxed as such. It can count for Capital Acquisitions Tax in the hands of whoever receives it, but a spouse or civil partner is exempt, and children have a tax-free threshold. A policy taken out specifically to pay inheritance tax (a Section 72 policy) is exempt when used for that purpose.
If you cannot find a policy
Ask the person's bank for a list of direct debits over the last year; insurers appear by name. The employer, the credit union and the mortgage lender each know what they hold. LegacySteps' letters to each insurer ask whether any policy existed in the person's name, so an unknown policy is found rather than lost.
Written and checked on 3 November 2026 against the published rules of the organisations named. Rules, rates and forms change, so check with the organisation before relying on any figure. LegacySteps is independent: it is not the HSE, the Department of Social Protection, a bank, an insurer or a credit union, and nothing here is legal, tax or financial advice.