Life insurance provides cash for your family after you die. The money your dependents will receive -- the "death benefit" -- is an important financial resource: It can help pay the mortgage, run the household, and ensure that your dependents aren't burdened with debt. The proceeds from a policy could mean that they won't have to sell assets to pay outstanding bills or taxes. What's more, there is no federal income tax on the benefits.

Life insurance questions can be complex. Will your family need this support after you are gone? What sort of policy should you buy? Who should you buy it from? Here are some questions and answers to help you make the decisions. For a more extensive life insurance FAQ, with more questions and answers, click here.

1. How much do you need?

2. What is term life insurance? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What is the difference between level, decreasing, and increasing?

3. What is permanent insurance? What are its advantages and disadvantages? What are the different types, such as whole, universal, adjustable, variable, and variable universal?

4. What is a rating? How do you find a company's rating?

5. How do you choose an agent? What can you expect them to do for you?

6. How do you get an online quote?

7. How do you choose a policy? How do you evaluate a whole or term quote?

8. How do you lower the cost?

9. What is the cash value of a policy? What about surrender cash value and policy loans?

10. What about the settlement? What happens when an insured person dies?

[Extended life insurance FAQ: more questions]

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InsureMe and NetQuote are the two top Internet tools for getting competing quotes. Their online forms ask you a few quick questions and then match your needs with competing companies. We recommend trying them both to get the widest selection for comparison.