A. The owner of a benefit contract shall have the right at all times to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the laws or rules of the society unless the owner waives this right by specifically requesting in writing that the beneficiary designation be irrevocable. A society may, through its laws or rules, limit the scope of beneficiary designations and shall provide that no revocable beneficiary shall have or obtain any vested interest in the proceeds of any certificate until the certificate has become due and payable in conformity with the provisions of the benefit contract.
B. A society may provide for the payment of funeral benefits from the proceeds of a certificate of no more than $2,000 to any person equitably entitled to them because of expenses incurred by the burial of the member.
C. If, at the death of any person insured under a benefit contract, there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the proceeds are payable, the amount of such benefit, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as previously provided, shall be payable to the personal representative of the deceased insured; however, if the owner of the certificate is other than the insured, the proceeds shall be payable to such owner.
Code 1950, §§ 38-284, 38.1-600; 1952, c. 317, § 38.1-638.32; 1968, c. 654; 1972, c. 530; 1986, c. 562.
Structure Code of Virginia
Chapter 41 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
§ 38.2-4100. Fraternal benefit societies
§ 38.2-4102. Representative form of government
§ 38.2-4104. Purposes and powers
§ 38.2-4105. Qualifications for membership
§ 38.2-4106. Location of office; meetings, communications to members; grievance procedures
§ 38.2-4107. No personal liability
§ 38.2-4109. Organization of domestic society on or after October 1, 1986
§ 38.2-4110. Incorporation of fraternal benefit societies
§ 38.2-4111. Amendments to laws
§ 38.2-4114. Consolidations and mergers
§ 38.2-4115. Conversion of fraternal benefit society into mutual life insurer
§ 38.2-4118. Benefits not attachable
§ 38.2-4119. The benefit contract
§ 38.2-4120. Nonforfeiture benefits, cash surrender values, certificate loans and other options
§ 38.2-4126. Reports to be filed
§ 38.2-4128. Examination of societies; no adverse publications
§ 38.2-4129. Admission; foreign or alien society
§ 38.2-4130. Injunction; liquidation; receivership of domestic society
§ 38.2-4131. Suspension, revocation or refusal of license of foreign or alien society
§ 38.2-4132. Licensing of agents
§ 38.2-4133. Unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices
§ 38.2-4135. Exemption of certain societies
§ 38.2-4136. Societies previously existing; reincorporation; amendments
§ 38.2-4137. Exemption of member representatives of certain societies