How to find a loved one's bank accounts, insurance and investments after they pass away

The short version: many countries offer an official way for heirs to look up a deceased person’s accounts — sometimes one service covers everything, sometimes you have to ask each bank or insurer separately. Start with the death registration, check your government’s inheritance or estate services, then fill the gaps yourself: overseas accounts, crypto and private loans are almost never covered by official searches.

Here’s how to work through it, step by step.

Step 1: Register the death and get official copies

Almost every institution will ask for proof of death and proof that you are an heir or the executor. Register the death as your country requires, and request several certified copies of the death certificate — you will need more than you expect.

Step 2: Check for an official lookup service

Search your government’s website for terms like “inheritance”, “estate”, “deceased person’s accounts” or “unclaimed property”. Depending on where you live, you may find:

• A one-stop service that asks banks, insurers and brokers on your behalf (Taiwan and South Korea have one, for example)
• Separate lookups for banks, securities accounts and life insurance (Japan works this way)
• Unclaimed-money databases where dormant balances end up after a few years

If you’re in Taiwan, Japan or Korea, we’ve written detailed guides for each — see the language menu at the top of this page.

Step 3: Watch the deadlines

Inheritance comes with time limits that are easy to miss while you’re grieving:

• Deciding whether to accept or refuse an inheritance — in many countries the window is only a few months. If there may be debts, find out what exists before you decide.
• Estate or inheritance tax filings — often due within months of the death.

Rules differ widely between countries. A lawyer, notary or tax adviser can tell you what applies to you.

What official searches usually miss

• Accounts in other countries
• Crypto: an exchange account can only be claimed if you know which exchange it’s on; a self-custody wallet is gone without its recovery phrase
• E-wallets, gift cards, loyalty points and in-game balances
• Private loans: money lent to friends or family, informal savings circles
• How to log in: even when you know an account exists, online banking and app logins often can’t be recovered

Where to look for clues

• Bank books, statements, card bills, insurance policies
• Their email inbox — search for “statement”, “transaction”, “deposit”, “contract note”
• Banking, brokerage and exchange apps on their phone
• Recurring payments out of their main account (premiums, investment plans, subscriptions)
• Past tax returns — interest and dividends show who paid them

For you: leave your family a list now

Anyone who has done this once knows the hardest part isn’t the paperwork — it’s not knowing where to start. If you don’t want your family to go through the same thing, you can prepare today:

1. Write down where each account lives: institution, account type, branch or contact, login page
2. Don’t write passwords: just a hint about where to find them — “in my password manager”, “envelope in the safe”
3. Keep it current: update it whenever you open or close an account
4. Decide who gets it, and when: you may not want your family to see everything today

HoldingsNest was built for exactly this. Use it to track your net worth, and record where each account lives along the way — only you can see it. Turn on the Dead Man’s Switch, and if you stop opening the app for a while, the ledgers you choose and the location of every account are handed to the family members you trust.

Frequently asked questions

Is there a single place to find all of someone’s accounts?

In a few countries, yes; in most, no. Even where a one-stop service exists, it only covers domestic financial institutions.

What if we find debts?

Many countries let heirs refuse an inheritance or limit their liability to the value of the estate, but only within a deadline. Get professional advice early.

How do we find accounts abroad?

Domestic lookups don’t include foreign institutions. Use statements, emails and apps to identify the institution, then follow its own process for heirs.