Who is the third in line in beneficiary succession if both the primary and contingent predeceased the insured?

Who is the third in line in beneficiary succession if both the primary and contingent predeceased the insured?

• A. Primary
• B. Tertiary
• C. Contingent
• D. Secondary

Answer: (B)

In life insurance benefit rules, payouts follow a sequence: primary first, then contingent (second), and then tertiary (third). If both the primary and the contingent predecease the insured, the funds go to the tertiary beneficiary—the third person in line. This ensures the policy still has a designated recipient even when the top two beneficiaries aren’t alive. If no tertiary is named, the proceeds may go to the insured’s estate or follow the policy’s specific provisions.

In life insurance benefit rules, payouts follow a sequence: primary first, then contingent (second), and then tertiary (third). If both the primary and the contingent predecease the insured, the funds go to the tertiary beneficiary—the third person in line. This ensures the policy still has a designated recipient even when the top two beneficiaries aren’t alive. If no tertiary is named, the proceeds may go to the insured’s estate or follow the policy’s specific provisions.