A public registry to find out if a deceased person had life insurance

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1. This law creates the Registry of Death-Coverage Insurance Contracts, a public registry where insurers must record life insurance and accident policies that cover the death of the insured person.
2. The registry exists so that possible beneficiaries can quickly find out whether a deceased person had death-coverage insurance and with which insurer, so they can claim the payout if they are entitled to it.
3. The registry depends on the Ministry of Justice and is managed by the General Registry of Last Wills (Registro General de Actos de Última VoluntadRegistro General de Actos de Última Voluntad General Registry of Last Wills, the public registry of wills, which also manages this new registry.). Its data is presumed accurate, but that does not guarantee the policy covers the case or that anyone is entitled to payment.
4. Any interested person can consult the registry only after the insured person has died, proving it with the death certificate and at least fifteen days after death. Data stays in the registry for five years.
5. The registry issues a certificate listing the policies in which the deceased appeared as insured and the insurers involved. With that certificate, the person can ask the insurer whether they are a beneficiary; if not, the insurer only confirms that fact.
6. Insurers that fail to report the required data commit an administrative infraction. Policies in force when the law takes effect must be reported within one year.

Who it affects

• Life insurance beneficiaries: They can find out whether their deceased loved one had a policy and claim from the insurer.
• Insurance companies: They must report data on in-force policies and paid claims to the registry; failing to do so is an infraction.
• Any interested person: They can request a registry certificate after an insured person's death, paying a 3.26-euro fee.
• Notaries: When authorizing inheritance deeds, they must request the registry certificate if the parties do not provide it.

Words worth knowing

Asegurado

The insured person, whose death or accident triggers the insurance payout.

Tomador del seguro

The policyholder, the person who buys the policy, who may or may not be the insured person.

Prestación

The payout, the money the insurer pays under the policy.

Coaseguro

Coinsurance, when several insurers cover the same risk, each for a share.

Registro General de Actos de Última Voluntad

General Registry of Last Wills, the public registry of wills, which also manages this new registry.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries