Court Opinion

ID: 8507806
Source: CourtListenerOpinion
Date Created: 2022-11-23 08:08:08.289472+00
Date Added: 2024-06-11T16:50:58.149815
License: Public Domain

Goebel, J.
It is contended, on behalf of the creditors, that this amount is subject to the payment of the debts of Beyer’s estate, and assets in the hands of the administrator for that purpose ; that the association is a corporation of Kentucky, and that the administrator, having received the amount as such administrator, it became assets in his hands to be administered upon by him.
In my judgment, it would make no difference whether this certificate was issued by a foreign corporation or not. The question is, who is entitled to this money under the contract ?
*243Under section 4 of the general laws of this association, Beyer had a right to direct to whom this benefit should be paid. He had a right, under section 5, to surrender this certificate and direct to whom a new certificate is to be made payable. Under section 6, in case of the death of one of the beneficiaries,. if there are more than one, it shall be paid to the survivor, unless the member had made a previous disposition thereof. And under section 7, in the event of the death of all of the beneficiaries selected by the member before the decease of such member, if he shall make no other or further disposition thereof, the benefits shall be paid to the heirs of the deceased member.
Beyer having made the certificate payable to his wife and having survived her, dying without having changed the same, and leaving no issue, his brothers and sisters under .the contract, are entitled to the benefits.
Where a corporation whose charter makes such certificate the exclusive property of the beneficiaries, the same is to be'treated as a contract of life insurance, under the rule laid down in the case of State v. The Standard Life Association, 38 O.S. 281, and the proceeds of such certificate are exempt from the debts of the decedent.
Nor can an administrator by his act, without their knowledge and consent by accepting this money, *244bind the heirs; nor did such money under such circumstances, become assets in his hands and subject to the payment of the debts of the decedent.
The exceptions to the inventory will be overruled.
Note. — Affirmed by the Common Pleas Court and Circuit Courts.