If you’re married, unless there are very unusual circumstances, your spouse should be the beneficiary, especially if you live in a community property state.

A community property state is a state where any asset acquired during the marriage is considered to be community property, which means it’s equally owned by each spouse. Any income that either spouse makes during the marriage is community income.

However, there are exceptions that permit spouses to own assets separately from each other. Gifts, inheritances and assets acquired before the marriage are all considered separate property.

There are only nine community property states, plus three states that allow residents to opt into community property law. The other 38 states plus Washington D.C. follow a common law property system where ownership of marital assets is more straightforward: whoever acquired the property owns it outright. However, a couple can choose to become joint owners, such as through a joint bank account.

If you’re now wondering which states are community property states, they are Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin.

If you’re single, you might have a tougher time naming a life insurance beneficiary.

If you have minor children, ask a lawyer about naming a trust as the beneficiary.

If you have a disabled family member, consider a special needs trust.

If you don't have trust, you can name an adult family member or any other trusted person. However, remember that if you name an adult family member, once the proceeds are paid, those funds legally belong to that individual. Therefore, you better really trust that person and make certain that he or she understands that the funds need to be used for the intended minor child/children.

Finally, when making your decision, do so as if this account would be paid out tomorrow.

You should always consult with an estate planning attorney.

Reference: Cision (May 20, 2022) “How to Choose a Life Insurance Beneficiary”

Suggested Key Terms: Estate Planning Lawyer, Life Insurance, Probate Attorney, Beneficiary Designations, Community Property