YOU ASK:

What is the definition of Per Capita Beneficiary Designation?

WE ANSWER:

Per Capita Beneficiary Designation is one way a life insurance policy's beneficiaries can be designated. These beneficiaries equally share the death benefit, as long as a beneficiary survives the insured.

For instance, John designates Paul, Patrick, Pam and Pat as his beneficiaries. Under the Per Capita Beneficiary Designation, each of these beneficiaries will receive 25% of the death benefit. However, If only Paul and Patrick survive the insured, they will divide the death benefit between the two of them and thus get 50% of the death benefit.

This is different from the per stirpes beneficiary designation, where the death benefits are distributed according to a class and may vary depending on the number of people falling under a class.

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