When someone dies how does one trace old savings, pensions and life insurance policies?

I assume you will need proof that you are acting as an executor -

Banks - Building Societies - Life policies & pensions - Company pensions -

Step by step guides -

This company can do the basics for you, although consensus of opinion suggests they don't do anything you can't do yourself using the contacts already mentioned -

If after having done this you believe that there are accounts missing you might wish to investigate one of the more specialised search services.

hth

Daytona