§ 1949. Beneficiaries

Legislative history

Reconstructed from this section’s Code source credit and amendment notes, resolved against the local Statutes at Large. Editorial notes are evidence, not the law that made the change.

1. 1958

   Pub. L. 85–857 · 72 Stat. 1105

   Enacted · 38 U.S.C. § 1949

   Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1160, § 749

   Source evidence

   Code source credit
   Pub. L. 85–857, Sept. 2, 1958, 72 Stat. 1160, § 749

2. 1991

   Pub. L. 102–83 § 5(a) · 105 Stat. 378

   Changed · 38 U.S.C. § 1949

   Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 749 of this title as this section

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 102–83 renumbered section 749 of this title as this section.

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (a) Redesignation of Sections to Conform to Chapter Numbers.— Each section contained in any of chapters 11 through 23 is redesignated by replacing the first digit of the section number with the number of the chapter containing that section. Each section contained in any of chapters 24 through 42 is redesignated so that the first two digits of the section number of that section are the same as the chapter number of the chapter containing that section.

3. 2022

   Faster Payments to Veterans’ Survivors Act of 2022

   Pub. L. 117–313 § 3(b)(1) · 136 Stat. 4399

   Amended · 38 U.S.C. § 1949

   Pub. L. 117–313 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to regulations, the insured shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.”

   Source evidence

   Code amendment note
   Pub. L. 117–313 amended section generally. Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “Subject to regulations, the insured shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries.”

   Enacted provision · exact public law section
   (1) In general.— Section 1949 of such title is amended to read as follows: “§ 1949. Beneficiaries “(a) Designation.— A person who enrolls in United States Government life insurance may designate a beneficiary of the insurance policy. Subject to regulations, the insured person shall at all times have the right to change the beneficiary or beneficiaries of a United States Government life insurance policy without the consent of such beneficiary or beneficiaries. “(b) Determination in Cases of Non-Designation.— If a person enrolled in United States Government life insurance does not designate a beneficiary under subsection (a) before the insured person dies, or if a designated beneficiary predeceases the insured person, the Secretary shall determine the beneficiary in the following order: “(1) The surviving spouse of the insured person. “(2) The children of the insured person and descendants of deceased children by representation. “(3) The parents of the insured person or the survivors of the parents. “(4) The duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the insured person. “(5) Other next of kin of the insured person entitled under the laws of domicile of the insured person at the time of the death of the insured person.” .

   Effective date note
   Amendment by Pub. L. 117–313 applicable with respect to the death of an insured person occurring on or after the date that is two years before Dec. 27, 2022, see section 3(c) of Pub. L. 117–313, set out as a note under section 1917 of this title.

2 of 3 references resolved to an enrolled provision · 1 partial