[Joan.of.the.Arch]

We bought term policies (several different ones put togeterh for an overall plan) none of which will extend past the youngest child being 18. Parental income would be hard to do without before high school graduation gives kids the ability to work full time if necessary. I would say our coverage was minimal. We did not get enough to pay for college. Just enough to pay for the house and minimal expenses of raising the kids to adulthood. Of course the value the term insurance will pay declines over time, but that is okay---the amount we need to raise the kids to adulthood is small as the years to adulthood become smaller.

Don't forget to re-evaluate along the way, though. Not only do needs change, but rates on policies change. You might actually get a better deal in the future.