Does Life Insurance Go Into Estate? 
If there is no named beneficiary or if the named beneficiary in a life insurance policy is not living at the time the life insured owner dies , and there is not a back up -LRB- contingent -RRB- beneficiary named , the proceeds go to the estate . This needlessly subjects the policy proceeds to probate . Always name a primary and back up beneficiaries and have a life insurance professional review your policy at least every three years to ensure your policy will perform as you currently desire . 