Can my sister get any money from my stepmother, who was the sole beneficiary for most of my dad's life insurance policies?

My father died July 2008. For some reason, my sister and half-brother were not named as beneficiaries to anything However, my half-sister, stepmom, and I were. Actually, my stepmother was the beneficiary to a great majority of my dad's life insurance money. My dad had three life insurance policies. My stepmother has no intention of giving anything to my sister. My dad's estate has been going through probate since mid-October. There was supposedly no will. My sister has a one-sixth stake in my dad's estate. What should she do or how should she begin? Basically, is there any way whatsoever for my sister, who is an heir, to force my stepmother to give some kind of money? Can my sister request that she be paid out, essentially giving up her one-sixth stake in my dad's estate? The probate lawyer is not very helpful; he sides with my stepmom because she's the one to pay him at the conclusion of probate! Any help would be greatly appreciated. - Is this your question? Add additional information