State RegulationsOH specificDifficulty 2/5
The primary beneficiary of an Ohio life policy dies before the insured, who never named a contingent beneficiary and never updated the designation. How are the death proceeds handled?
Select an option to reveal the answer and the full 3-part explanation — free, no signup.
Answer & full 3-part explanation (select an option above, or peek)
Why B is correct
When the primary beneficiary predeceases the insured and no contingent beneficiary was named, the policy's succession provision controls: the benefit typically passes to the insured's estate. Ohio's beneficiary framework (ORC 3911.09 and companion sections) supports payment under the designation and policy terms rather than to a third party's heirs.
Why the other options are wrong
- A) The predeceased beneficiary's own heirs have no claim; the beneficiary's right lapsed at that beneficiary's death.
- C) The proceeds are not unclaimed property; they have a designated taker under the policy's succession clause.
- D) Children take only if named or if a per stirpes class or succession clause includes them.
Memory hook
No backup, no beneficiary - the check goes to the estate.