Finding a deceased person's contracts without a password
How to identify a deceased loved one's accounts and contracts without accessing their online accounts: free official schemes, the notary's role, and the traps of paid services.
After a death, one difficulty keeps coming up: no one knows the full list of the deceased's accounts, insurance policies and subscriptions. The temptation would be to look for their logins and passwords. This is neither necessary nor advisable: official schemes make it possible to find this information legally, without any access to their online accounts.
This guide describes the method, scheme by scheme. It is general information; the notary and the organisations concerned remain your contacts for your specific situation.
Identifying bank accounts: the Ficoba file
The national bank accounts file (Ficoba), kept by the tax authorities, lists all accounts opened in France. Heirs can obtain the list, and the notary handling the estate consults it as a matter of course. Important: Ficoba reveals the existence of accounts, not their balance or transactions. It is a starting point for knowing which banks to contact.
Identifying life insurance: Ficovie and AGIRA
Life insurance policies above a certain amount are recorded in the Ficovie file, which the notary handling the estate can consult. In parallel, anyone who believes they are the beneficiary of a policy taken out by a deceased person can contact AGIRA for free, which queries all insurers on the market.
- Ficovie: consulted by the estate's notary.
- AGIRA: free search, open to a presumed beneficiary on presentation of the death certificate.
- Ciclade: for sums already transferred to the Caisse des Dépôts.
Reading the bank statements
Once the accounts are identified, their statements are enough to reconstruct the deceased's contractual life, with no online access. Recurring debits and transfers reveal most commitments.
- Recurring debits: subscriptions, energy, telecoms, health cover, insurance premiums.
- Regular transfers: pensions, rent, payments into savings or life insurance.
- Transaction labels: the organisation's name and, often, a contract reference.
The notary's role
The notary handling the estate accesses Ficoba and queries Ficovie, draws up the inventory of assets and the deed proving heir status. Their involvement is required in several cases, in particular where there is real estate, a will, or when the estate's assets exceed a certain threshold. They are often the best support for tracing all the contracts.
Beware of paid services
Some websites offer, for a fee, to "find" contracts or "recover" a life insurance policy. These services charge, sometimes heavily, for what AGIRA, Ciclade and the notary do for free. Use these official channels and be wary of any paid intermediary in this area.
Without a password, by design
All these steps have one thing in common: they never ask for the deceased's logins. You do not need their passwords, only to know who to notify and which reference to quote. This is exactly the logic of Vitalegis, which is not a password vault but a directory: during their lifetime the holder lists their organisations and contract references, and designates the loved ones who will receive the file, so they never have to investigate.
Frequently asked questions
Can you find a deceased person's accounts without their logins?
Yes. The Ficoba file, accessible to heirs and to the notary, lists the existence of the deceased's bank accounts. The statements obtained from the banks during the estate process are then enough to identify the contracts, with no online access.
Do you have to pay to search for a life insurance policy?
No. The search is free via AGIRA for policies held by insurers, and via Ciclade for sums transferred to the Caisse des Dépôts. The paid services that offer these searches are not needed.
Is a notary always required?
No. It is in certain situations, in particular where there is real estate, a will, or above a certain amount of assets. Only a notary can advise on your situation; this text does not replace them.