(a) The owner of a benefit contract shall have the right at all times to 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, by laws or rules, may limit the scope of beneficiaries and shall provide that a beneficiary may not have or obtain a vested interest in the proceeds of a certificate until the certificate has become due and payable in conformity with the provisions of the benefit contract. (b) A society may make provision for the payment of funeral benefits to the extent of the portion of a payment under a certificate which might reasonably appear to be due to a person equitably entitled thereto by reason of having incurred expense occasioned by the burial of the member, but the portion paid may not exceed the sum of $500. (c) If, at the death of a person insured under a benefit contract, there is no lawful beneficiary to whom the proceeds are payable, the amount of the benefits, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as provided in (b) of this section, shall be payable to the estate of beneficiary to whom the proceeds are payable, the amount of the benefits, except to the extent that funeral benefits may be paid as provided in (b) of this section, shall be payable to the estate of the deceased insured the same as other property not exempt, but, if the owner of the certificate is not the insured, the amount of the benefits shall be payable to the owner.
Alaska Legal Code