Concerning Designations. A Covered Life may designate a Beneficiary and re-designate a Beneficiary from time to time in such manner specified by Prudential and in accordance with such related Annuity Form. Prudential will furnish an acknowledgment of the acceptance of any such designation or re-designation. Any spousal consent requirements of ERISA as applied to employee benefit plan participants in effect from time to time will apply to such designations. Such designations will not require the consent of any prior Contingent Life or Beneficiary, provided the change complies with the requirements of ERISA as applied to employee benefit plan participants in effect from time to time. Except as otherwise stated in Section 2.2, if a Covered Life, Contingent Life or spouse, as applicable, has not designated a Beneficiary or Beneficiaries, or if none of the Beneficiaries designated by the Covered Life, Contingent Life or spouse, as applicable, survive the Covered Life, Contingent Life or spouse, as applicable, or if such designation shall be legally ineffective for any reason, then payment of any benefits due under this Contract shall be made in the following priority: (i) to the Covered Life’s or Contingent Life’s surviving spouse, as applicable; or if there be none surviving; (ii) to the Covered Life’s or Contingent Life’s surviving children, as applicable, in equal shares, or if there be none surviving; (iii) to the Covered Life’s or Contingent Life’s father and mother, as applicable, in equal shares if both are surviving, or if only one is surviving, to the one surviving; or if neither is surviving; (iv) to the Covered Life’s or Contingent Life’s estate, as applicable. However, Prudential may, at its option, pay any such amount which would otherwise be payable to an estate as described in the preceding sentence to any one or jointly to any number of the following surviving relatives of the Covered Life or Contingent Life, as applicable, who appear to [***] Confidential Treatment Requested Confidential portion omitted and filed separately with the Commission REDACTED VERSION Prudential to be equitably entitled to payment because of expenses incurred in connection with the burial or last illness of the Covered Life or Contingent Life, as applicable: children, parents, brothers or sisters. Any payment described in this paragraph and made by Prudential will, to the extent of such payment, be a valid discharge of its obligation under this Contract. Such designations and re-designations o...
