---
kind: "section"
citation: "5 U.S.C. § 8705"
title: "5"
title_heading: "Government Organization and Employees"
number: "8705"
heading: "Death claims; order of precedence; escheat"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/5/8705"
units:
  - "Part III — Employees"
  - "Subpart G — Insurance and Annuities"
  - "Chapter 87 — Life Insurance"
---

# §8705. Death claims; order of precedence; escheat

- (a) Except as provided in [subsection (e)](#e), the amount of group life insurance and group accidental death insurance in force on an [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) at the date of his death shall be paid, on the establishment of a valid claim, to the [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) or [persons](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) surviving at the date of his death, in the following order of precedence:

  First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries designated by the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) in a signed and witnessed writing received before death in the employing [office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) or, if insured because of receipt of annuity or of benefits under subchapter I of [chapter 81](/usc/5/chptIII/sptG/ch81.md) of this title as provided by [section 8706(b) of this title](/usc/5/8706.md?p=b), in the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) of Personnel Management. For this purpose, a designation, change, or cancellation of beneficiary in a will or other document not so executed and filed has no force or effect.

  Second, if there is no designated beneficiary, to the widow or widower of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2).

  Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) and descendants of deceased children by representation.

  Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) or the [survivor](/usc/5/8401.md?p=28) of them.

  Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or [administrator](/usc/5/9801.md?p=2) of the estate of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2).

  Sixth, if none of the above, to other next of kin of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) entitled under the laws of the domicile of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) at the date of his death.

- (b) If, within 1 year after the death of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), no claim for payment has been filed by a [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) entitled under the order of precedence named by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, or if payment to the [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) within that period is prohibited by Federal statute or regulation, payment may be made in the order of precedence as if the [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) had predeceased the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), and the payment bars recovery by any other [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1).
- (c) If, within 2 years after the death of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), no claim for payment has been filed by a [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) entitled under the order of precedence named by [subsection (a)](#a) of this section, and neither the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) nor the administrative [office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) established by the company concerned pursuant to [section 8709(b) of this title](/usc/5/8709.md?p=b) has received notice that such a claim will be made, payment may be made to the claimant who in the judgment of the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) is equitably entitled thereto, and the payment bars recovery by any other [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1).
- (d) If, within 4 years after the death of the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2), payment has not been made under this section and no claim for payment by a [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) entitled under this section is pending, the amount payable escheats to the credit of the [Employees](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’ Life Insurance [Fund](/usc/5/8401.md?p=6).
- (e)
  - (1) Any amount which would otherwise be paid to a [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) determined under the order of precedence named by [subsection (a)](#a) shall be paid (in whole or in part) by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) to another [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) if and to the extent expressly provided for in the terms of any [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation, or the terms of any [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) order or [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7)-approved property settlement agreement incident to any [court](/usc/5/8401.md?p=7) decree of divorce, annulment, or legal separation.
  - (2) For purposes of this subsection, a decree, order, or agreement referred to in [paragraph (1)](#e-1) shall not be effective unless it is received, before the date of the covered [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2)’s death, by the employing [agency](/usc/5/3132.md?p=a-1) or, if the [employee](/usc/5/4701.md?p=a-2) has separated from [service](/usc/5/8401.md?p=26), by the [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3).
  - (3) A designation under this subsection with respect to any [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1) may not be changed except—
    - (A) with the written consent of such [person](/usc/5/7103.md?p=a-1), if received as described in [paragraph (2)](#e-2); or
    - (B) by modification of the decree, order, or agreement, as the case may be, if received as described in [paragraph (2)](#e-2).
  - (4) The [Office](/usc/5/5402.md?p=3) shall prescribe any regulations necessary to carry out this subsection, including regulations for the application of this subsection in the event that two or more decrees, orders, or agreements, are received with respect to the same amount.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 89–554, Sept. 6, 1966, 80 Stat. 594; Pub. L. 90–83, § 1(91), Sept. 11, 1967, 81 Stat. 219; Pub. L. 95–454, title IX, § 906(a)(2), (3), Oct. 13, 1978, 92 Stat. 1224; Pub. L. 95–583, § 1(b), Nov. 2, 1978, 92 Stat. 2481; Pub. L. 105–205, § 1, July 22, 1998, 112 Stat. 683.)

## Notes

| Historical and Revision Notes |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1966 Act |  |  |
| Derivation | U.S. Code | Revised Statutes and<br>Statutes at Large |
|  | 5 U.S.C. 2093. | Aug. 17, 1954, ch. 752, § 4, 68 Stat. 738.<br>Aug. 28, 1962, Pub. L. 87–611, § 1, 76 Stat. 406. |

In subsection (c), the words “Employees’ Life Insurance Fund” are substituted for “fund created pursuant to section 2094(c) of this title”.

Standard changes are made to conform with the definitions applicable and the style of this title as outlined in the preface to the report.


| 1967 Act |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Section of title 5 | Source (U.S. Code) | Source (Statutes at Large) |
| 8705(a) | 5 App.: 2093. | Mar. 23, 1966, Pub. L. 89–373, § 1, 80 Stat. 78. |

In subsection (a), “Civil Service Commission” is substituted for “Commission” on authority of former 5 U.S.C. 2091(a).

In subsection (c), “Commission” is substituted for “Civil Service Commission” for consistency of style. The full title of the Commission is set forth the first time it is used in a section.

### Editorial Notes

### Amendments

1998—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 105–205, § 1(1), substituted “Except as provided in subsection (e), the” for “The”.

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 105–205, § 1(2), added subsec. (e).

1978—Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 95–583 struck out “or (c)” after “section 8706(b)”.

Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office of Personnel Management” for “Civil Service Commission”.

Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 95–454 substituted “Office” for “Commission” wherever appearing.

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Effective Date of 1978 Amendments

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–583 effective Nov. 2, 1978, see section 3 of Pub. L. 95–583, set out as a note under section 8706 of this title.

Amendment by Pub. L. 95–454 effective 90 days after Oct. 13, 1978, see section 907 of Pub. L. 95–454, set out as a note under section 1101 of this title.