Does A Will Override A Life Insurance Beneficiary? 
Life insurance proceeds are separate from an estate and are paid directly to the beneficiaries . The will is executed through the courts called probate . A will can not override a life insurance policy since it is separate and outside probate . The exception would be if the beneficiary is the estate , then the will could dictate the proceeds . This is a very costly mistake . Life insurance proceeds are not taxed unless they are left to an estate and they be come taxed along with the estate . 