2019 Tennessee Code
Title 56 - Insurance
Chapter 25 - Fraternal Benefit Societies
Part 4 - Contractual Benefits
§ 56-25-402. Beneficiaries -- Funeral benefits.
(a) The owner of a benefit contract has the right at all times to change the 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 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 thereto by reason of having incurred expenses occasioned 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 the benefit, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as provided in this section, shall be payable to the personal representatives 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.
