Does life insurance go through probate in Nevada?

Life insurance proceeds paid to a named beneficiary generally do not go through probate in Nevada. This is one of the most significant advantages of life insurance as an estate planning tool—it passes directly to the named beneficiary outside the probate process, avoiding court proceedings, legal fees, and delays that can tie up other estate assets for months or years.

However, there are situations where life insurance does enter probate. If you name your estate as the beneficiary, proceeds become part of the probate estate and are subject to creditors and court processes. Similarly, if all named beneficiaries predecease you with no contingent beneficiary named, proceeds may default to your estate.

Nevada has established procedures for simplified estate administration and small estate affidavits, but the probate process still involves time and legal costs. Ensuring your life insurance has named, current, living beneficiaries avoids this entirely.

Reviewing and updating beneficiary designations regularly—particularly after marriage, divorce, birth of a child, or death of a named beneficiary—keeps proceeds outside probate. Agents in our network recommend annual beneficiary reviews as part of overall policy maintenance.