Does Life Insurance Go To Estate Or Beneficiary? 
If the owner of the life insurance policy designates the estate as the beneficiary , the life insurance proceeds will go to the estate . If the owner of the policy designates a person or persons as beneficiary , the death benefit is paid directly to that person or persons . If the person who was named beneficiary passes away before the insured person , and no new beneficiary is named , the life insurance proceeds could go to the estate . 