(a) Applicability.--This section is applicable if an individual:
(1) is domiciled in this Commonwealth;
(2) designates the individual's spouse as beneficiary of the individual's life insurance policy, annuity contract, pension or profit-sharing plan or other contractual arrangement providing for payments to the spouse; and
(3) either:
(i) at the time of the individual's death is divorced from the spouse; or
(ii) dies during the course of divorce proceedings, no decree of divorce has been entered pursuant to 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323 (relating to decree of court) and grounds have been established as provided in 23 Pa.C.S. § 3323(g).
(b) General rule.--Any designation described in subsection (a)(2) in favor of the individual's spouse or former spouse that was revocable by the individual at the individual's death shall become ineffective for all purposes and shall be construed as if the spouse or former spouse had predeceased the individual, unless it appears the designation was intended to survive the divorce based on:
(1) the wording of the designation;
(2) a court order;
(3) a written contract between the individual and the spouse or former spouse; or
(4) a designation of a former spouse as a beneficiary after the divorce decree has been issued.
(c) Liability.--
(1) Unless restrained by court order, no insurance company, pension or profit-sharing plan trustee or other obligor shall be liable for making payments to a spouse or former spouse which would have been proper in the absence of this section.
(2) Any spouse or former spouse to whom payment is made shall be answerable to anyone prejudiced by the payment.
(Dec. 16, 1992, P.L.1163, No.152, eff. imd.; Dec. 1, 1994, P.L.655, No.102, eff. 60 days; Oct. 27, 2010, P.L.837, No.85, eff. 60 days)
Cross References. Section 6111.2 is referred to in section 3323 of Title 23 (Domestic Relations).
Structure Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Pennsylvania Consolidated & Unconsolidated Statutes
Title 20 - DECEDENTS, ESTATES AND FIDUCIARIES
Section 6102 - Termination of trusts (Deleted by amendment)
Section 6103 - Release or disclaimer of powers or interests (Repealed)
Section 6103.1 - Release of powers and interests and disclaimer of powers
Section 6104 - Rule against perpetuities
Section 6105 - Rule against perpetuities; disposition when invalidity occurs
Section 6106 - Income accumulations; when valid
Section 6107 - Income accumulations; disposition when invalidity occurs
Section 6107.1 - Applicability of rule against perpetuities
Section 6108 - Designation of beneficiaries of insurance or employee death benefits not testamentary
Section 6109 - Combination of charitable trusts (Repealed)
Section 6110 - Administration of charitable interests (Deleted by amendment)
Section 6111 - Conveyances to defeat marital rights (Repealed)
Section 6111.1 - Modification by divorce or pending divorce
Section 6111.2 - Effect of divorce or pending divorce on designation of beneficiaries
Section 6112 - Spendthrift trusts (Deleted by amendment)
Section 6113 - Limited estates in personalty and in the proceeds of the conversion of real estate
Section 6114 - Rules of interpretation
Section 6115 - Estates pur autre vie
Section 6116 - Estates in fee tail abolished
Section 6117 - Rule in Shelley's case and doctrine of worthier title