How do I find someone's assets after they die?
Start with their paperwork, post and emails — bank, savings, pension, investment and insurance statements. Check the last few years of bank statements for clues like interest, dividends or premiums. For anything possibly missed, use unclaimed-asset registers (such as the government's and the industry's tracing services) or a paid asset search. Keep a running schedule of everything found.
Detailed explanation
Thoroughness protects the executor and the beneficiaries.
- Gather statements: banks, savings, pensions, investments, insurance, premium bonds.
- Scan bank statements for regular payments in/out that reveal hidden accounts or policies.
- Use tracing/unclaimed-asset services for lost accounts, pensions and shares.
- Check property deeds and any business interests.
- Record each asset and its date-of-death value in a schedule.
Reviewing his late aunt's bank statements, an executor spots a small monthly insurance premium and an annual dividend — leading him to a life policy and a forgotten shareholding that would otherwise have been missed.
- Complete the questionnaireA few guided questions about you, your family and your wishes.
- Structured reviewYour answers are checked automatically for completeness and consistency before your will is produced.
- Receive your documentsYour will and supporting paperwork are produced, ready to print.
- Sign correctlyClear instructions on signing and witnessing so the will is legally valid.
- Protect your familyYour wishes are recorded and your loved ones are spared the intestacy default.
Sources
- GOV.UK — What to do when someone dies: step by step
- GOV.UK — Applying for probate
- Citizens Advice — Dealing with the estate of someone who has died
- Reviewed by
- ClearLegacy editorial team
- Last reviewed
- June 2026
- Next review
- December 2026
- Jurisdiction
- England & Wales
Frequently asked questions
How do I find someone's assets after they die?
Search their paperwork, post and emails for bank, pension, investment and insurance statements, review recent bank statements for clues, and use unclaimed-asset and tracing services or a paid asset search for anything missed. Record everything in a schedule.
Is there a way to trace lost accounts of someone who died?
Yes. Free tracing and unclaimed-asset services exist for bank accounts, pensions and shares, and paid asset-search firms can do a wider sweep. Reviewing bank statements often reveals overlooked policies and accounts.
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