Does life insurance go through probate?

When you name a specific person as beneficiary, the death benefit pays directly to them once the claim is processed, bypassing the court process entirely. This is one of the big advantages of life insurance.

Beneficiaries typically just file a claim with the death certificate and receive payment, often within weeks, with no probate delay.

If you name your estate as the beneficiary, or you die without a named beneficiary, the death benefit becomes part of your estate and can go through probate. This delays payout and makes it subject to creditors.

Keeping beneficiaries up to date, and naming a contingent beneficiary, avoids this outcome.

Life events like marriage, divorce, or a new child are good moments to review your beneficiaries. An outdated beneficiary designation overrides a will, so it is important to keep it current.