Mother passed & didnt put me as her beneficiary, what happens now?

Hello, i am writing this because i came into a pretty big issue lately, i found out my mother had a life insurance policy, i only found this out after her roomate who had lived with her told me he mailed the said paperwork that came to my mothers house to my moms friend. Lets call her (the friend) A, A is now claiming they are the beneficiary of the life insurance but will not show proof such as photos of said paperwork or anything, but is insisting on me sending my mothers death certificate so she can "get half and give me the rest". She stated the policy was a little under 50k

ive been trying to contact the insurance company but i work a 9-5 so my hours get in the way of theirs, im sure my mom didnt list me as a beneficiary, but i am her only child. What happens to that policy? Is that beneficiary able to get the benefits from the policy without a death certificate even while not being a family member?