When someone passes away, it’s common for the family to suddenly realize they don’t actually know where all the money is kept. Maybe the Will mentions bank accounts or stocks… but there’s nothing in the house. No statements. No lists. No paperwork.
If this is happening to you, take a breath — you can find everything. There’s no central “asset registry,” but there are reliable ways to track down missing accounts, investments, and insurance policies.
Here’s the process I walk families through.
1. Start With the Mail and Bank Statements
It sounds old-fashioned, but the mail is still the easiest place to start. Banks, brokerages, and insurance companies still send:
Monthly statements
Tax documents
Lapse notices
Annual summaries
Even one envelope can tell you the name of the bank or investment firm.
If you have access to the person’s checking account, look for clues such as:
Direct deposits
Dividend deposits
Automatic payments to an insurance company
Transfers to other banks
Those small entries tell you exactly where to look next.
2. Check for 1099 Forms (Tax Documents)
If the person filed taxes, this is one of the best ways to track down assets.
Look for:
1099-INT (bank interest — shows the bank’s name)
1099-DIV (dividends — shows the investment firm)
1099-B (stock sales — shows the brokerage)
1099-R (retirement distributions)
Even if there was only a tiny amount of interest, the bank still reports it to the IRS.
If you can’t locate tax returns in the house, you can request a tax transcript from the IRS using Form 4506-T along with the death certificate. The transcript lists the financial institutions that issued those 1099s.
3. Search Personal Items: Wallets, Checkbooks, Password Lists
People often leave behind:
Debit cards
Old checkbooks
Notes with login information
A password notebook
A safe deposit box key
These small items can reveal entire accounts.
4. Look for Retirement and Employer Benefits
Many people forget about:
Old 401(k)s
Pensions
Employer-provided life insurance
Union benefits
HR departments or benefits administrators can confirm whether anything exists and where it’s held.
5. Check for Life Insurance (There Is a National Search)
Life insurance is the one area where there is a nearly national database.
Use the NAIC Life Insurance Policy Locator.
It sends a search request to most major insurance companies. If a policy exists, the company contacts the beneficiary.
You should also look for:
Withdrawal history (premium payments)
Mail from insurance companies
Statements in the person’s files
6. Don’t Forget the State Unclaimed Property Website
If an account was old, inactive, or the address was outdated, the bank may have sent the money to the state.
For Florida: FLTreasureHunt.gov
Check every state where the person lived or worked. This is a surprisingly common place to find forgotten accounts and even life insurance proceeds.
7. When in Doubt, Open Probate and Order Records
If you still can’t locate everything, probate gives the personal representative access to:
Tax records
Safe deposit boxes
Financial information
Employer files
Claims made by creditors (which often reveal unknown accounts)
Most assets eventually surface once authority is established.
Final Thoughts
You’re not expected to know where everything is. Most people don’t leave behind a neat “assets list,” and families often feel overwhelmed when trying to track it all down.
If you need help finding accounts or settling a loved one’s estate, my office can guide you through each step and make sure nothing is missed.
Lori Vella is an Estate Planning and Business Attorney. She works virtually throughout Florida and New York, but has her home office in Tampa, Florida. She is mom to a little boy which ignited the passion for helping other families. She and her son enjoy car rides, playgrounds and taking mini-adventures. They also have an organic garden that surprisingly yields vegetables. Lori considers herself well-versed in Seinfeld and welcomes any trivia!
Disclaimer: The Law Office of Lori Vella’s website contains general information directed to Florida residents. This firm does not intend to give legal advice through its pages and/or blog. If you need legal advice, we encourage you to find an attorney licensed in your state. This language on this website does not create an attorney-client relationship between you and this firm.