Does my will override my life insurance beneficiary designation in Nevada?

No—in Nevada, your life insurance beneficiary designation takes precedence over your will. Life insurance proceeds paid to a named beneficiary pass outside of probate entirely and are not subject to your will's instructions. This is one of the most significant advantages of life insurance: the payout goes directly to the beneficiary without court involvement, regardless of what your will says.

For example, if your will leaves everything to your children but your life insurance policy still names your ex-spouse as the beneficiary, the proceeds will go to your ex-spouse—not your children. The will has no authority over the designated beneficiary.

This also means that keeping beneficiary designations current is essential. Many people create estate plans and update their wills after major life events, but forget to update the beneficiary designations on life insurance policies, retirement accounts, and other non-probate assets. The result can be significant and irreversible.

In Nevada, a divorce may affect some beneficiary designations under state law, but this is not universal and should not be relied upon. Always update beneficiary designations directly with the carrier after any life change.

The interplay between beneficiary designations, wills, and trusts in estate planning can be complex. Agents in our network handle the insurance side, while an estate planning attorney can ensure all your documents align with your overall intentions.