An Article in the San Francisco Chornicle on Charitable giving through Life Insurance explores ways to give charity using this asset that could be a tremendous benefit.  however I don't agree with parts of it, in particular the notion that "Transfer of assets from an insurance contract is also absolutely incontestable, thus rendering anyone contesting the estate settlement powerless to stop it." Thats a particularly silly statement.  There are a wide range of reasons why transfers can be contestable