Before an insurer may pay the proceeds of any contract of life or disability insurance to any undertaker or funeral director, as beneficiary or assignee, for funeral services, it shall require proof satisfactory to it that the services have been rendered. If proof of rendition of services is not furnished within thirty days after demand is made upon an insurer for such payment and in any event within one year from the date of the insured’s death, the insurer shall pay the proceeds of such insurance to any contingent or other beneficiary designated in the policy, and if no contingent or other beneficiary is so designated, to the estate of the insured or to any person, other than to such undertaker or funeral director, equitably entitled to all or any portion of the proceeds by reason of having incurred expense or furnished funeral services for the insured, to the extent of the expense incurred or services furnished.

(Added by Stats. 1939, Ch. 727.)