What happens when a beneficiary dies first?
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What happens when a beneficiary dies first?
My stepfather just passed. He stated in his Will and life insurance that my mother was his beneficiary, however she pre-deceased him. Do her 5 children split life insurance or how does that work?
Asked on February 15, 2013 under Estate Planning, Louisiana
Answers:
Tricia Dwyer / Tricia Dwyer Esq & Associates PLLC
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
In general, when a sole named beneficiary to life insurance dies prior to the death of the insured person ('the insured'), then the proceeds would be paid to the estate of the insured. In the event that the insured named a contingent beneficiary or beneficiaries, then that secondary beneficiary or beneficiaries would receive (be paid) the life insurance proceeds. An attorney who assists a person in planning for the event of his/her death is oftentimes an attorney who practices estate planning law or 'elder law'. Such an attorney helps a person accomplish his/her wishes and goals for the division of his/her property upon death. The attorney would assist the person in pre-planning decisionmaking to address all possible scenarioes and possible eventualities to the best degree possible. All the best.
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