§ 27-25-17. Beneficiaries.
(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 is 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 make provision for the payment of funeral benefits to the extent of the portion of any payment under a certificate as might reasonably appear to be due to any person equitably entitled to payment by reason of having incurred expense occasioned by the burial of the member, provided the portion so paid shall not exceed the sum of two thousand dollars ($2,000).
(c) 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 the benefit, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as provided in subsection (b) of this section, shall be payable to the personal representative of the deceased insured, provided that if the owner of the certificate is other than the insured, the proceeds shall be payable to the owner.
History of Section.P.L. 1984, ch. 201, § 2; P.L. 1998, ch. 441, § 22.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Chapter 27-25 - Rhode Island Fraternal Code
Section 27-25-1. - Fraternal benefit societies.
Section 27-25-2. - Lodge system.
Section 27-25-3. - Representative form of government.
Section 27-25-4. - Definitions.
Section 27-25-5. - Purposes and powers.
Section 27-25-6. - Qualifications for membership.
Section 27-25-8. - No personal liability.
Section 27-25-10. - Organization.
Section 27-25-11. - Amendments to laws.
Section 27-25-12. - Institutions.
Section 27-25-13. - Reinsurance.
Section 27-25-14. - Consolidations and mergers.
Section 27-25-15. - Conversion of fraternal benefit society into mutual life insurance company.
Section 27-25-17. - Beneficiaries.
Section 27-25-18. - Benefits not attachable.
Section 27-25-19. - The benefit contract.
Section 27-25-21. - Investments.
Section 27-25-23. - Exemptions.
Section 27-25-25. - Valuation.
Section 27-25-27. - Annual license.
Section 27-25-28. - Examination of societies — No adverse publication.
Section 27-25-29. - Foreign or alien society — Admission.
Section 27-25-30. - Injunction — Liquidation — Receivership of domestic society.
Section 27-25-31. - Suspension, revocation, or refusal of license of foreign or alien society.
Section 27-25-32. - Injunction.
Section 27-25-33. - Licensing of insurance producers.
Section 27-25-34. - Unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices.
Section 27-25-35. - Service of process.
Section 27-25-37. - Penalties.
Section 27-25-38. - Exemption of certain societies.
Section 27-25-39. - Reciprocal fees and charges.
Section 27-25-40. - Payments of commissions to other than agent or insurance producer forbidden.
Section 27-25-41. - Payment of benefits other than insurance benefits.
Section 27-25-42. - Severability.