Under the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, what happens if both the insured and the primary beneficiary die at the same time?

Under the Uniform Simultaneous Death Act, if both the insured and the primary beneficiary die at the same time, the law presumes that the primary beneficiary has died first. This assumption is pivotal as it enables the life insurance proceeds to be directed to the contingent beneficiary or, if none exists, to the estate of the insured. The rationale behind this approach is to prevent the primary beneficiary from receiving the death benefit if they also contributed to the insured's death or died simultaneously, which may complicate claims. By defaulting to the assumption that the primary beneficiary predeceased the insured, the law seeks to provide a clear and fair resolution regarding the distribution of funds while attempting to uphold the intentions of the original policyholder. This interpretation simplifies the claims process and supports rightful beneficiaries according to the established hierarchy set by the insured.