What type of beneficiary has conditions attached to their rights to benefits?

A contingent beneficiary is one who has conditions attached to their rights to benefits. This means that their entitlement to assets or benefits will only come into effect if certain predetermined conditions are met. For instance, if the primary beneficiary predeceases the individual who created the trust or will, or if specific goals or milestones must be achieved, then the contingent beneficiary would inherit only after those conditions are satisfied.

In contrast, a direct beneficiary receives benefits outright without any conditions; a revocable beneficiary can have their designation changed at any time by the grantor, and an income beneficiary typically receives income generated by an asset, but does not necessarily deal with conditions affecting their rights. Thus, the concept of "contingent" is crucial in estate planning, highlighting the potential for benefits to be contingent upon certain circumstances or events occurring, which distinguishes it from other types of beneficiaries.