A life insurance claim which involves a per capita distribution of policy proceeds would be payable to the

• A. Named living primary beneficiaries
• B. Estate
• C. Executor
• D. Contingent beneficiaries

Answer: (A)

Per capita distribution divides the policy proceeds equally among the named primary beneficiaries who are alive at the insured’s death. This means the living named primary beneficiaries are the recipients, not the estate or the executor. For example, if there are two named primary beneficiaries and both survive, each gets an equal share. If one dies before the insured, the surviving primary would receive the entire amount (assuming no surviving contingent beneficiaries). If all primary beneficiaries are dead, the proceeds would then pass to the contingent beneficiaries, and if none survive, to the estate. So, the proceeds are payable to the named living primary beneficiaries.