Iowa Code Title XIII. Commerce [Chs. 505-554D] § 512B.17. Beneficiaries

1. The owner of a benefit contract may change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the laws or regulations 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 regulations, limit the scope of beneficiary designations and shall provide that a revocable beneficiary shall not have or obtain a vested interest in the proceeds of a certificate until the certificate has become due and payable in conformity with the benefit contract.

2. A society may make provision for the payment of funeral benefits to the extent of the portion of a payment under a certificate which reasonably appears to be due to a person equitably entitled to the benefit by reason of having incurred expense occasioned by the burial of the member. However, the portion so paid shall not exceed the sum of one thousand dollars.

3. If, at the death of a 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 pursuant to subsection 2, shall be payable to the estate of the deceased insured the same as other property not exempt. However, if the owner of the certificate is other than the insured, the proceeds are payable to the owner.