33-15-512. Exemption from execution of proceeds of group life — exception. (1) A policy of group life insurance or the proceeds of the policy payable to the individual insured or to the beneficiary under the policy may not be liable, either before or after payment, to be applied by any legal or equitable process to pay any debt or liability of the insured individual, of the individual’s beneficiary, or of any other person having a right under the policy. The proceeds of the policy, when not made payable to a named beneficiary or to a third person pursuant to a facility-of-payment clause, may not constitute a part of the estate of the individual insured for the payment of the individual’s debts.

Terms Used In Montana Code 33-15-512

  • Beneficiary: A person who is entitled to receive the benefits or proceeds of a will, trust, insurance policy, retirement plan, annuity, or other contract. Source: OCC
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Obligation: An order placed, contract awarded, service received, or similar transaction during a given period that will require payments during the same or a future period.
  • Person: includes a corporation or other entity as well as a natural person. See Montana Code 1-1-201
  • Process: means a writ or summons issued in the course of judicial proceedings. See Montana Code 1-1-202

(2)This section does not apply to group life insurance issued pursuant to Title 33, chapter 20, parts 10, 11, and 12, to a creditor covering the creditor’s debtors to the extent that the proceeds are applied to payment of the obligation for the purpose of which the insurance was issued.