Study for the Tennessee Life Producer Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Get exam-ready now!

Practice this question and more.


If the insured and primary beneficiary die simultaneously in an accident, where do the death proceeds go according to the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act?

  1. To the insured's estate

  2. To the insured's contingent beneficiary

  3. To the insurance company

  4. To the primary beneficiary’s estate

The correct answer is: To the insured's contingent beneficiary

In situations where the insured and the primary beneficiary die at the same time, the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act helps to address the distribution of death benefits from life insurance policies. According to this Act, when there's no clear evidence determining which party died first, it is assumed that the primary beneficiary predeceased the insured. This assumption is crucial in determining where the insurance proceeds will be directed. As a result, the death benefits do not go to the primary beneficiary or their estate since they are considered to have died before the insured. Instead, the proceeds are passed on to the contingent beneficiary. The contingent beneficiary is the next person designated to receive the benefits in the event that the primary beneficiary cannot receive them, either due to death or other disqualifying factors. This legal framework ensures that the insured's intended financial support structure remains intact and that the benefits flow to the next person named in the policy, thus fulfilling the insured's wishes. The options regarding the insured's estate, the insurance company, or the primary beneficiary's estate do not align with the provisions of the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, making the choice of the contingent beneficiary the correct and relevant outcome in this scenario.