In addition, who receives death benefits from a life insurance policy depends on who was named as the beneficiary. The spouse may or may not have been named as beneficiary of the life insurance.
Also, what is the cause of death? If the cause of death is excluded from coverage, then there is no payout of death benefit.
For instance, if the insured is illdd by his spouse, the spouse cannot receive any death benefit.
So, it will depend on a few things, including the following:
1. Was the life insurance policy paid up and in force?
2. Who is named as the beneficiary on the life insurance policy?
3. What is the cause of death?
Learn more about the beneficiary of a life insurance policy and how it works.