A survivorship clause is a provision in a life insurance policy that delays the death benefit payment. Only upon confirmation that the beneficiary has survived the insured for the number of days as established in the clause does the insurance company award the death benefit.
In case the beneficiary does not survive, then the death benefit would be awarded to the contingent beneficiary or the insured's estate in case the insured did not designate the former. In this way, the insured can retain some control over who receives the death benefit. For example, if you left your death benefit to your brother and he were to pass soon after you, the money would go whomever his will stipulates. However, if your policy had a survivorship clause of 30 days and your brother did not survive you for 30 days, your death benefit would go to your contingent beneficiary.
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