The Jones Act allows recovery on behalf of the decedent’s beneficiaries. Beneficiaries have been determined to include: Surviving spouse: A wife or husband married to the decedent at the time of death. Common law spouses (as long as their common law marriage complies with the applicable state law) have been held to be a surviving spouses. Divorced spouses, however, are not deemed to be beneficiaries. Children: Biological children as well as stepchildren who have suffered pecuniary losses due to the death have been held to be beneficiaries. Parents: Dependent parents are considered beneficiaries. Non-dependent parents, however, are not beneficiaries. Siblings: Siblings who are dependent on the decedent may be deemed dependents.