(a) As used in this section, the words "death benefits" mean death benefits of any kind, including, but not limited to, proceeds of life insurance policies and payments under an employees' trust or contract purchased by a trust forming part of a pension, stock bonus, or profit-sharing plan, or under a retirement annuity contract. (b) (1) Death benefits may be made payable to the trustee under a trust agreement, or declaration of trust in existence at the time of the death of the insured, employee, or annuitant. (2) The death benefits shall be held and disposed of by the trustee in accordance with the terms of the trust as they appear in writing on the date of the death of the insured, employee, or annuitant. (3) It is not necessary to the validity of a trust agreement or declaration of trust, whether revocable or irrevocable, that it have a trust corpus other than the right of the trustee to receive death benefits. (c) (1) Death benefits may be made payable to the trustee named, or to be named, in a will of the insured or the owner of the policy, or the employee covered by the plan or contract whether or not the will is in existence at the time of the designation. (2) On the admission of the will to probate, and the payment of the benefits to the trustee, the benefits shall be held, administered, and disposed of in accordance with the terms of the testamentary trust created by the will. (d) In the event no trustee makes claim for the death benefits within a period of one year after the date of death of the insured, employee, or annuitant, or if satisfactory evidence is furnished to the insurance company or other obligor within such one-year period that there is or will be no trustee to receive the proceeds, payment shall be made by the insurance company or other obligor to the personal representative of the person making the designation, unless otherwise provided by agreement. (e) Death benefits payable as provided in this section, unless paid to a personal representative under the provisions of subsection (d) of this section, are not considered part of the estate of the decedent, and are not subject to any obligation to pay taxes, debts, or other charges enforceable against the estate of the decedent, except as provided in § 7-308 of the Tax - General Article. (f) Death benefits held in trust may be commingled with other assets which may properly come into the trust.
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