How do I findout if a policy is inforce?

Call directly to your insurance company.

Contact either your broker or the insurance company on your Declarations Page of your policy and ask them. If you want to inquire about a 3rd party's insurance (e.g., you want to make sure your contractor has valid insurance), you can ask for a certificate of insurance. If you feel the certificate is fake, call the insurance company that issued the certificate. Also, if it is a contractor, you can contact your state contractor's license board, which regulates the licensing, bonding, and insuring requirements for contractors.