Connecticut General Statutes
Chapter 700d - Fraternal Benefit Societies
Section 38a-636. (Formerly Sec. 38-228). - Beneficiaries. Funeral benefits.

(a) A member of a fraternal benefit society shall have the right at all times to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the constitution, laws or rules of the society. Every society by its constitution, laws or rules may limit the scope of beneficiaries and shall provide that no 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 insurance contract.

(b) A society may make provision for the payment of funeral benefits to the extent of such portion of any payment under a certificate as might reasonably appear to be due any person equitably entitled thereto by reason of having incurred expense occasioned by the burial of the member, provided the portion so paid shall not exceed the sum of five hundred dollars. Any society may pay the benefits due minors in monthly installments of not over twenty-five dollars per month for each minor beneficiary to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the society, are caring for and supporting such beneficiary, and such payment shall be a complete discharge of the society's liability to the extent of such payments.
(c) If, at the death of any member, there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the insurance benefits shall be payable, the amount of such benefits, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as hereinbefore provided, shall be payable to the personal representative of the deceased member.
(1949 Rev., S. 6247; 1949, 1953, S. 2848d; 1957, P.A. 448, S. 17; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 587, 608, 610; P.A. 78-303, S. 85, 136; P.A. 86-290, S. 5, 10; P.A. 90-243, S. 136.)
History: P.A. 75-420 replaced welfare commissioner with commissioner of social services; P.A. 77-614 and 78-303 replaced commissioner of social services with commissioner of income maintenance, effective January 1, 1979; P.A. 86-290 deleted provision allowing assignment of insurance to income maintenance commissioner; P.A. 90-243 divided section into Subsecs. and added reference to “fraternal benefit” society in Subsec. (a); Sec. 38-228 transferred to Sec. 38a-636 in 1991.
Annotations to former section 38-228:
When money is due to beneficiary, it becomes his property. 64 C. 250. Right to change beneficiary. 70 C. 537; 74 C. 468; 92 C. 490. Beneficiary determined at death; provision of charter requiring payment to “immediate family” construed. 70 C. 545; 80 C. 212. Provisions of will cannot affect designation of beneficiary. 71 C. 719. Money not property before it comes due. 82 C. 315; 90 C. 511. Beneficiaries restricted to those designated in statute; effect of payment of dues by one not so designated. 82 C. 315; 87 C. 644. When notice of designation not necessary; extent of power of member to designate; right to change designation. 90 C. 426. Provision for payment to “legal representatives” of deceased member considered. Id., 511. Change of beneficiary must be made in accordance with bylaws. 91 C. 115. Where there are living persons within the designated classes, naming of estate is void and next of kin among such persons will take. 117 C. 48. Member of association has no property rights in fund, only power of appointing beneficiary. Id., 53.

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