When an insured dies without a changed beneficiary, who receives the death benefit?

When an insured dies without a changed beneficiary, the death benefit is paid to the insured's estate. This is because, in the absence of a designated beneficiary, insurance policies typically state that the proceeds will be directed to the estate of the insured.

When the estate receives the death benefit, it becomes part of the decedent's assets and is subject to the probate process. The distribution of these funds will then follow the laws of intestacy if there is no will, or according to the terms of the will if one exists. This ensures that the death benefit is ultimately distributed according to the insured's wishes or state law, rather than going to any specific individual like a spouse, child, or charity unless they were explicitly named in the policy as beneficiaries.