20-876

20-876. Beneficiaries

A. At all times the owner of a benefit contract may change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the laws or rules of the society unless the owner waives this right and requests in writing that the beneficiary designation be irrevocable. A society may limit the scope of beneficiary designations and shall provide that no revocable beneficiary has or may obtain any vested interest in the proceeds of a certificate until the certificate becomes due and payable in conformity with the provisions of the benefit contract.

B. A society may provide for the payment of funeral benefits to the extent of that portion of any payment under a certificate that reasonably appears to be due to any person who is equitably entitled to the payment and who incurred expenses resulting from the burial of a member. Any amount paid pursuant to this section shall not exceed one thousand dollars.

C. If a lawful beneficiary to whom death benefits are payable does not exist at the death of a person insured under a benefit contract, the benefit shall be paid to the estate of the deceased insured, except to the extent that funeral benefits have been paid pursuant to subsection B. If the owner of the certificate is a person other than the insured, the benefits shall be paid to the certificate owner.