Does Life Insurance Have To Be Probated? 
Great question ! One of great things about life insurance -LRB- as well as annuity contracts and IRA accounts -RRB- is the disposition is generally controlled by the beneficiary designation . Courts are very reluctant to interfere with a valid beneficiary designation . When do we see problems ? When the account is not periodically reviewed and the beneficiary designation -- for example a parent is named and they have passed away but no new beneficiary has been named . Of course life insurance proceeds will generally become part of the probated estate when the estate is named as the beneficiary . Easy fix ? Be sure to name primary and contingent beneficiaries and review them periodically ! Hope that helps ... 