33-7-521. Beneficiaries. (1) The owner of a benefit contract may change the beneficiary or beneficiaries in accordance with the laws or rules 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 rules, limit the scope of beneficiary designations and shall provide that a revocable beneficiary may not have or obtain a vested interest in the proceeds of a certificate until the certificate becomes due and payable under the provisions of the benefit contract.

(2) A society may make provision for the payment of funeral benefits of up to $500 under a certificate due to a person equitably entitled to payment for the burial of a member.

(3) If, at the death of any 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 as provided in subsection (2), is payable to the estate of the deceased. If the owner of the certificate is a person other than the insured, the proceeds are payable to the owner.