My mother recently passed away back in January 2009. My mother had left her life insurance policy to me. I have an older sister and a younger brother. When I received the funds from the policy, I was told that no one else had knowledge. Now 9 months later my sister calls and states that apparently my mother had left her 401K retirement in all 3 of her children's names. My mother was married almost 10 years before she died. My step father had called my sister to tell her about the money in the 401k plan because the company who held the money could not find us and they called him. He told my sister that there was a life insurance policy and a bank account also. Now, my question. I received the life insurance money. Will my sister and brother find out that I received the funds from the life insurance policy? Meaning, can this information be disclosed from someone other than myself or stepdad about who received the life insurance money?

First, my condolences for your loss.

The insurance company will not release policy info to anyone other than you, the named beneficiary.

Are you sure that your stepfather doesn't know that you were the beneficiary?