What happens to life insurance with no beneficiary, is that the payment would simply go to the policyholder’s estate. Additionally, the payment might extend the probate process and other significant punishment depending on the individual’s will and financial situations. Moreover, it is advisable to reach out to a financial or tax advisor to comprehend the specifics of one’s situation.
Another thing that happens to life insurance with no beneficiary is that the policyholder’s heir might obtain fewer amounts compared to the policy’s original death benefit. Also, the disbursement process may be delayed compared to if they were selected as beneficiaries. Lastly, regularly assess your life insurance policy and select at least one primary and one contingent beneficiary. Aside from what happens to life insurance with no beneficiary, continue reading on life insurance beneficiary.
What Is a Life Insurance Beneficiary?
A life insurance beneficiary is an individual or entity selected by the insured to obtain a death benefit if the insured passes away during the policy term. Additionally, the insured could name a person, a business, a trust, or a non-profit organization as the beneficiary. Generally, the beneficiary should be able to indicate with their full name, home address or business location, and social security number or tax ID number.
How Life Insurance Beneficiaries
A life insurance beneficiary is the person or entity who obtains the death benefit disbursement if the policyholder dies while the policy is active. When obtaining life insurance, it’s common to select at least one beneficiary. However, you have the option to name numerous beneficiaries and allocate specific portions of the death benefit to each.
You can choose individuals, respectable organizations, and some trusts as your life insurance policy. Furthermore, if the policyholder dies, the chosen beneficiaries must contact the insurance company to start the claims process and receive the death benefit.
Types of Beneficiaries
Let’s explore some alternatives you could obtain when selecting a beneficiary for life insurance. Moreover, there are two primary types of beneficiaries, which include
Primary Beneficiary
This is an individual who obtains the proceeds of the policy upon the death of the policyholder, usually collected directly or without a probate process. Additionally, the policyholder could name an individual, various individuals, a business partner, an organization, or a legal entity like a trust. Moreover, whether your primary beneficiary passes away or is not qualified, the agreement entails if the death benefit will transfer to the heirs or be directed to a contingent beneficiary as designated in the policy.
Contingent Beneficiary
A contingent beneficiary could also be referred to as a secondary beneficiary. It does not collect any of the policy proceeds whether the primary beneficiary is undead or qualified. However, this beneficiary will be able to collect disbursement if the primary beneficiary is not available or not able to proceed.
When Could a Life Insurance Beneficiary Be Unqualified?
Life insurance beneficiaries can become unqualified under various events. In most apparent situations, both the primary and secondary beneficiaries die before the policyholder. However, there are other events where a named beneficiary might encounter issues due to the way they are named.
Some common circumstances include:
Identity of the Named Beneficiary
When naming your primary and secondary beneficiaries, add their legal full name, date of birth, and Social Security number. However, don’t select your beneficiary as a spouse or children. For instance, if you file for divorce and marry again, family beneficiary selection could lead to a legal war for the benefits.
Named your estate as your beneficiary
Don’t name your estate as your beneficiary if you have loved ones or relatives you want to obtain the policy. The insurance policy could become mixed up in the probate process and obtained by creditors instead of the named heirs.
A Minor Child as a Beneficiary
Whether your named beneficiary is a minor when you pass away, the court will appoint a custodian to oversee the funds. Moreover, these funds will be placed into a specialized account, such as a trust or Uniform Transfers to Minors Account (UTMA). In addition, the custodian will be responsible for the funds and withdrawals for qualified costs until the child reaches the legal age as determined by state law.
Generally, the courts will appoint a parent or the guardian named in your will as the custodian. However, if these options are unavailable, the custodian’s management and spending of the funds may not align with your desires. This potential complication can often be avoided by establishing a valid trust and naming it as the beneficiary of the life insurance policy.
Named a Pet as a Beneficiary
The policyholder might want to make sure that its pet is well cared for after you pass away. However, animals cannot be a named life insurance beneficiary. Moreover, you could create a trust or select a legal guardian to collect the policy proceeds in your stead.
Your Beneficiary is Alive but Incapable
If your beneficiary is unable to make decisions independently when passing away due to a mental condition, they may be deemed unqualified to obtain the benefit. In situations where it is considered possible, it can be beneficial to establish a trust in advance. Moreover, this trustee of your choice could direct and allocate the funds for the intended beneficiary.
How To Bypass Life Insurance With No Beneficiary
Here are several tips to assist in ensuring that your death benefit bypasses the probate process and is paid out in accordance with your desires:
Name Numerous Beneficiaries
Naming numerous beneficiaries makes sure that other heirs obtain the death benefit if one of the beneficiaries dies before you. Moreover, the way the death benefit is allocated between beneficiaries depends on the policyholder.
Name Secondary Beneficiaries
Naming secondary beneficiaries could assist relatives or entities you love to obtain death benefits. These beneficiaries can only obtain the death benefits when a primary beneficiary dies or is ineligible for some reason.
Keep Your Policy Updated
Most life events could affect who you select as named beneficiaries. For instance, if you are married with a child, you might include your love partner in the policy.
However, you have to remove the previous love partner from the policy if you are a divorcee. Lastly, assess your policy and events to make sure your beneficiaries are updated. Also, what happens to life insurance with no beneficiary could make your life insurance policy get hooked in an expensive and prolonged probate process. However, selecting numerous beneficiaries can prevent you from dying with no beneficiaries.
