Do the proceeds of life insurance go through probate? No, unless the named beneficiary is not alive, or if there is no named beneficiary. What often happens is that the owner of the policy names a beneficiary but fails to name a contingent (“back-up”) beneficiary. If the only named beneficiary is not living when the person upon whose life the policy was issued dies, the proceeds go through probate. It would be very prudent for you to review your life insurance policies and make sure that both beneficiaries and back-up beneficiaries are named.
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