does anyone know of life insurance that i can take out where i can specify beneficiary. all the ones that i have looked at on line would just pay out to my estate. i have remarried and want to leave my children from first marriage a lump sum each. i think i am right in thinking that if i die everything would automatically go to my husband?

you need to get a regular life policy and then get it set up under trust so that you can specify beneficiary, for this you need to have 2 trustees and as many beneficiaries as you want!
I also think if you specify in your will, but i know trustees is definatly a way of doing it

You need to meet with a professional (an agent) face to face.

You should also meet with a lawyer to draft the necessary legal documents.

If you want to do it all yourself and not pay for professional advice then don't expect professional results.

You really face more significant issues than just how to pass on a lump sum to each child from your first marriage.

What if you and your second husband have children? What if your second husband predeceases you? Will his children/family battle you over his estate? What if your children marry, have kids, divorce, remarry, have more kids, have kids out of wedlock, predecease you etc etc? Do you want a lump sum going to your natural child only (not to their spouse or children? What if your child develops a drug habit? What if your child becomes disabled and has large and on-going medical bills? Do you want to pay those medical bills or do you want to support your child? (two different answers)

Go meet with a professional and discuss lots of "what if" questions.

Good Luck and don't buy your critical financial products online.

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You need to write the policy in trust for your children. If you buy with advice (as opposed to buying it in Tesco's) your adviser can explain this to you and sort out the forms.

if you make a will the executors of your estate will pay out to the beneficiaries named therein. You could always have your children insure you and pay the premiums yourself on their behalf.

You simply need life insurance with the children named as co-beneficiaries. Life insurance pays to the estate only if specified that way, no beneficiary is named, or named beneficiary is passed on already. And yes normally, everything would go to your still living husband.

You need a will, especially if your children are not adults. If that is the case you would want to name who you would want to care for the children.

You also need to discuss everything with your husband so there are no surprises anywhere.
He may need a will also, depending on his personal circumstances.

Good luck with everything.

You can choose the beneficiaries of your life insurance policy. You can even make them irrevocable beneficiaries so no one can change them if something happens.

One place you can get term life insurance and choose the beneficiary is term life insurance with no exam. They allow you to apply online, choose your beneficiaries, and get approved for coverage with no medical exam required.