Does a life insurance payout have to go through probate court?

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Does a life insurance payout have to go through probate court?

I have filed the final inventory on the estate and found out after the fact that there was an insurance policy. Will I need to re-open the estate?

Asked on November 16, 2015 under Estate Planning, New Hampshire

Answers:

M.D., Member, California and New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

Life insurance proceeds are paid directly to the listed beneficiary. In other words, such proceeds are not part of the probate estate. This means that the deceased's beneficiaries/heirs have no claim to them and neither do creditors of the estate, therefore the estate need not be re-opened.


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