I need to redo my will and other estate documents. I am divorced and have two grown children. My estate is small and will likely go to pay off debts but I have some life insurance that I want to leave to my children. I am broke so have trouble paying for a lawyer. Will my life insurance proceeds be included in my estate or will it go directly to my children. I live in CA. Thanks.

Life insurance if they have a named beneficiary, will go directly to the person, not to the estate. If the person is not living, or if you don't list a person, it goes to the estate.

The life insurance money will be paid directly to the beneficiaries. The proceeds will not go through probate. The money will be tax free to your children. If they make any profit from the use of the money, then they will have to pay taxes on that.

Be sure that the right persons know about which life insurance company you have your policy with and what amounts you have designated for what child. This is very important because if you don't tell anyone this information and you die, there is no way anyone can properly track this information down and all the money you paid over the years in premiums will be down the drain literally as the life insurance company is really not going to go out of their way to pay out. Be sure that the life insurance company has the proper, up to date address information on your beneficiaries as well. If they have moved and have different addresses now or say the girls got married be sure the company has the correct entire name for the beneficiary as well.