New York Laws
Article 45 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
4508 - Beneficiaries.

(b) The beneficiaries under contracts of insurance on the lives of
children may be designated by the adult person authorized to make
application for such insurance. Unless otherwise provided by the
constitution or by-laws or the insurance certificate, any such member
may, on or after attaining the age of sixteen years, change any such
designation.
(c) An authorized society may make provision in its contract for the
payment of life insurance or accidental death benefits to such person or
persons as may be equitably entitled thereto by reason of having
incurred reasonable expense occasioned by the maintenance, medical
attention or burial of the member, provided the amount so paid shall not
exceed five thousand dollars.
(d) If at the death of any person insured under a benefit contract,
there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the proceeds shall be payable,
the amount of such proceeds, except to the extent that funeral benefits
may be paid as hereinbefore provided, shall be payable to the personal
representative of the deceased insured, provided that if the owner of
the certificate is other than the insured, such proceeds shall be
payable to such owner. Notwithstanding any other provision of this
chapter to the contrary, any insured member of an authorized society may
voluntarily designate the authorized society as the beneficiary of any
insurance contract for the purpose of any lawful activity of the
authorized society.