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Simple English definitions for legal terms
alternate beneficiary
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A quick definition of alternate beneficiary:
An alternate beneficiary is someone who will receive property or benefits only if the first person chosen to receive them cannot or does not want to. For example, if someone leaves their house to their friend but their friend doesn't want it, the house may go to an alternate beneficiary instead. This can also happen with insurance policies, where a backup person is chosen to receive the benefits if the first person named is unable to.
A more thorough explanation:
An alternate beneficiary is a person who will receive property or benefits if the primary beneficiary is unable or unwilling to accept them. This can happen in situations such as wills or insurance policies.
John writes a will leaving his house to his son, but he also names his daughter as an alternate beneficiary. If his son does not want the house or is unable to take ownership, the house will go to his daughter instead.
Sarah has a life insurance policy with her husband as the primary beneficiary. However, she also names her sister as an alternate beneficiary. If her husband passes away before her or is unable to claim the benefits, her sister will receive the benefits instead.
These examples illustrate how alternate beneficiaries can be designated to ensure that property or benefits are not left unclaimed or wasted if the primary beneficiary is unable or unwilling to accept them.