If a family member had a life insurance policy on your mother and she wanted to split everything among the surviving children should this policy be included?

If the insured died, the insurance company must be notified of the death and then supplied completed claims forms and the death certificate. It will then pay out the benefit to the named beneficiary. This is contractual so whoever is named, gets the money and you do not have a say in the matter or how it is spent, unless you are aware that "mom" wanted it that way. Often times the insured names the oldest child as the beneficiary expecting he will take care of his younger siblings. Heck no, he's buying a boat to go with his new home on the lake. That is why Mom should have had a will and a Trust. 4lifeguild