§ 84-231. Person causing death not to inherit nor benefit by insurance of decedent.

No person who is convicted of murder in the first degree, murder in the second degree, or manslaughter in the first degree, as defined by the laws of this state, or the laws of any other state or foreign country, of having taken, caused, or procured another to take, the life of an individual, shall inherit from the victim, or receive any interest in the estate of the victim, or take by devise or legacy, or as a designated beneficiary of an account or security which is a POD or TOD designation, or as a surviving joint tenant, or by descent or distribution, from the victim, any portion of the victim's estate; and no beneficiary of any policy of insurance or certificate of membership issued by any benevolent association or organization, payable upon the death or disability of any person, who in like manner takes, causes, or procures to be taken, the life upon which such policy or certificate is issued, or who causes or procures a disability of such person, shall take the proceeds of such policy or certificate; but in every instance mentioned in this section all benefits that would accrue to any such person upon the death or disability of the person whose life is thus taken, or who is thus disabled, shall become subject to distribution among the other heirs of such deceased person according to the laws of descent and distribution, in the case of death, and in case of disability, the benefits thereunder shall be paid to the disabled person; provided, however, that an insurance company shall be discharged of all liability under a policy issued by it upon payment of the proceeds in accordance with the terms thereof, unless before such payment the company shall have written notice by or in behalf of some claimant other than the beneficiary named in the policy that a claim to the proceeds of such policy will be made by heirs of such deceased under the provisions of this section.

Added by Laws 1915, c. 136, § 1.  Amended by Laws 1963, c. 309, § 1, emerg. eff. June 19, 1963; Laws 1975, c. 356, § 1, emerg. eff. June 12, 1975; Laws 1994, c. 313, § 9, eff. Sept. 1, 1994.