Does Your Spouse Have To Be Your Beneficiary For Life Insurance? 
No , your spouse does not have to be your beneficiary for life insurance . You can choose your children , although if they are minors , it is better to leave the money to a trust or another trusted adult who you know would use the death benefit for their welfare . You can choose anyone or any entity to be your beneficiary who has some financial input in your life . E.g. Parents who gave you some money , a business through which you have a loan , grandparents you care for in their home or yours . 