The primary beneficiary is the first person, trust, estate, institution or any combination therein named in a will or life insurance policy to receive the deceased's assets. In most cases, naming a primary beneficiary means that the will or policy of the deceased will not have to go through probate, which can be a lengthy and costly process. Those who name primary beneficiaries in their wills/policies are advised to name contingent beneficiaries, in case the primary beneficiary is deceased. Further, legal experts say that the will's author should re-examine this document from time to time and if need be, re-assign beneficiaries in the case of marriage, divorce, birth, adoption, or death in the family. In the case that more than one primary beneficiary is named, they will inherit all assets equally. If a beneficiary is not named, most states follow a line of descendants to see whom it will be: spouse, dependent children, dependent parents, non-dependent children, non-dependent parents, estate of the deceased.