If a policyholder cannot determine the order of death, who receives the policy benefits?

In situations where the order of death cannot be determined, the benefits from a life insurance policy are typically paid to the contingent beneficiary. The contingent beneficiary is designed to receive the policy benefits if the primary beneficiary is not alive at the time of the policyholder's death or if the order of deaths cannot be established. This provision ensures that the benefits do not become unclaimed or revert to the insurer in cases where it is unclear who should receive the benefits.

In a scenario where neither the primary beneficiary nor the contingent beneficiary can be definitively determined due to simultaneous deaths or other circumstances, the policy's terms may specify how funds are handled, commonly favoring the contingent beneficiary as the next in line. Therefore, naming a contingent beneficiary in the policy provides a straightforward solution to these types of complications.