The only beneficiary named in a life insurance policy died before the insured. The policyowner did not name a new beneficiary. When a claim is filed, the death benefit would be paid to the

If the named beneficiary dies before the insured, the death benefit does not automatically transfer to the beneficiary's estate unless specified by the policy owner. Since the beneficiary is deceased and no new beneficiary has been appointed, the death benefit cannot go to the beneficiary's estate, contrary to the situation described in the question.

The insured's next of kin would not automatically receive the death benefit if the insured's estate is the designated recipient. The distribution of the death benefit depends on the estate's settlement process and any related legal documents, rather than directly transferring to next of kin without going through the estate.

The policyowner does not receive the death benefit unless they are also the insured and the beneficiary. In this scenario, since the only beneficiary is deceased and no new beneficiary has been named, the benefit would not revert to the policyowner but rather to the insured's estate.