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<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>362528</law_id><section_number>38.2-4117</section_number><catch_line>Beneficiaries</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2026/" slug="2026" current="TRUE" last_updated="2026-08-02">2026</edition><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="88" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="43" identifier="41">Fraternal Benefit Societies</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="4" identifier="4">Contractual Benefits</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> The owner of a <span class="dictionary">benefit contract</span> shall have the right at all times to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or <span class="dictionary">rules</span> of the <span class="dictionary">society</span> unless the owner <span class="dictionary">waives</span> this right by specifically requesting in writing that the beneficiary designation be irrevocable. A <span class="dictionary">society</span> may, through its <span class="dictionary">laws</span> or <span class="dictionary">rules</span>, 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 <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> until the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> has become due and payable in conformity with the provisions of the <span class="dictionary">benefit contract</span>. <a id="paragraph-1350268" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4117/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> A <span class="dictionary">society</span> may provide for the payment of funeral benefits from the proceeds of a <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> of no more than $2,000 to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> equitably entitled to them because of expenses incurred by the burial of the member. <a id="paragraph-1350269" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4117/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> If, at the death of any <span class="dictionary">person</span> insured under a <span class="dictionary">benefit contract</span>, there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the proceeds are payable, the amount of such benefit, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as previously provided, shall be payable to the personal representative of the deceased insured; however, if the owner of the <span class="dictionary">certificate</span> is other than the insured, the proceeds shall be payable to such owner. <a id="paragraph-1350270" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4117/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 38-284, 38.1-600; 1952, c. 317, &#xA7; 38.1-638.32; 1968, c. 654; 1972, c. 530; 1986, c. 562.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
