Is my life insurance beneficiary automatically my spouse?

Usually not. Life insurance companies typically write a check for the life insurance death benefit proceeds to whoever is named on the life insurance policy as a beneficiary.

Sometimes that could be an ex-spouse if the life insurance policy owner didn't change beneficiaries after getting divorced.

A spouse has no automatic right to life insurance money except in states with community-property laws.

In those states, a spouse might be entitled to a portion of the life insurance death benefit.