<?xml version="1.0"?>
<law><site_title>Virginia Decoded</site_title><site_url>https://vacode.org</site_url><law_id>62524</law_id><section_number>38.2-4135</section_number><catch_line>Exemption of certain societies</catch_line><edition url="https://vacode.org/2025/" slug="2025" current="TRUE" last_updated="">2025</edition><referred_to_by><reference>38.2-4100</reference></referred_to_by><structure><unit label="title" level="1" order_by="1" identifier="38.2">Insurance</unit><unit label="chapter" level="2" order_by="1" identifier="41">Fraternal Benefit Societies</unit><unit label="article" level="3" order_by="1" identifier="6">Regulation</unit></structure><text>
						<section id="A"><p><span class="prefix-number">A.</span> Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to affect or apply to: <a id="paragraph-228002" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A1" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">1.</span> Grand or subordinate <span class="dictionary">lodges</span> of Masons, Odd Fellows, or Knights of Pythias, exclusive of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> department of the Supreme <span class="dictionary">Lodge</span> Knights of Pythias, or the Junior <span class="dictionary">Order</span> of United American Mechanics, exclusive of the beneficiary degree or <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> branch of the National Council, Junior <span class="dictionary">Order</span> of United American Mechanics; <a id="paragraph-228003" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A1"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A2" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">2.</span> Similar societies which do not <span class="dictionary">issue</span> <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> <span class="dictionary">certificates</span>; <a id="paragraph-228004" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A2"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A3" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">3.</span> An association of local <span class="dictionary">lodges</span> of a <span class="dictionary">society</span> now doing business in this Commonwealth which provides death benefits of not more than $500 to any 1 <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or disability benefits of not more than $300 in any 1 year to any 1 <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or both; <a id="paragraph-228005" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A3"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A4" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">4.</span> <span class="dictionary">Contracts</span> of reinsurance business on benefits of fraternal benefit societies in this Commonwealth; <a id="paragraph-228006" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A4"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A5" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">5.</span> Grand or subordinate <span class="dictionary">lodges</span> of societies, <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or associations now doing business in this Commonwealth which provide benefits exclusively through local or subordinate <span class="dictionary">lodges</span>; <a id="paragraph-228007" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A5"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A6" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">6.</span> <span class="dictionary">Orders</span>, societies or associations which admit to membership only <span class="dictionary">persons</span> engaged in one or more crafts or hazardous occupations, in the same or similar lines of business, insuring only their own members and their families, and the ladies&#x2019; societies or ladies&#x2019; auxiliaries to such <span class="dictionary">orders</span>, societies or associations; <a id="paragraph-228008" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A6"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A7" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">7.</span> Domestic societies which limit their membership to employees of a particular city or town, designated firm, business house or corporation and which provide for a death benefit of not more than $400 to any 1 <span class="dictionary">person</span>, or disability benefits of not more than $350 to any 1 <span class="dictionary">person</span> in any 1 year, or both; <a id="paragraph-228009" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A7"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A8" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">8.</span> Domestic societies or associations of a purely religious, charitable or benevolent description, which provide for a death benefit of not more than $100 or for disability benefits of not more than $150 to any 1 <span class="dictionary">person</span> in any 1 year, or both; or <a id="paragraph-228010" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A8"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="A9" class="indent-1"><p><span class="prefix-number">9.</span> Any association, whether a fraternal benefit <span class="dictionary">society</span> or not, which was organized before 1880 and whose members are officers or enlisted, regular or reserve, active, retired, or honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces or Sea Services of the United <span class="dictionary">States</span>, and a principal purpose of which is to provide <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> and other benefits to its members and their dependents or beneficiaries. <a id="paragraph-228011" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#A9"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="B"><p><span class="prefix-number">B.</span> Any such <span class="dictionary">society</span> or association described in subdivisions 7 and 8 of subsection A which provides for death or disability benefits for which benefit <span class="dictionary">certificates</span> are issued, and any such <span class="dictionary">society</span> or association included in subdivision 8 of subsection A which has more than 1,000 members, shall comply with all provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-228012" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#B"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="C"><p><span class="prefix-number">C.</span> No <span class="dictionary">society</span> which, by the provisions of this section, is exempt from the requirements of this chapter, except any <span class="dictionary">society</span> described in subdivision 6 of subsection A of this section, shall give or allow, or promise to give or allow to any <span class="dictionary">person</span> any compensation for procuring new members. <a id="paragraph-228013" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#C"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="D"><p><span class="prefix-number">D.</span> Every <span class="dictionary">society</span> which provides for benefits in case of death or disability resulting solely from accident, and which does not obligate itself to pay natural death or sick benefits, shall have all <span class="dictionary">privileges</span> and be subject to the applicable provisions and regulations of this chapter except that the provisions relating to medical examination, valuations of benefit <span class="dictionary">certificates</span>, and incontestability shall not apply to such <span class="dictionary">society</span>. <a id="paragraph-228014" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#D"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="E"><p><span class="prefix-number">E.</span> The <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> may require from any <span class="dictionary">society</span> or association, by examination or otherwise, such information as will enable the <span class="dictionary">Commission</span> to determine whether such <span class="dictionary">society</span> or association is exempt from the provisions of this chapter. <a id="paragraph-228015" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#E"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section>
						<section id="F"><p><span class="prefix-number">F.</span> Societies, <span class="dictionary">orders</span> or associations exempted under the provisions of this section shall also be exempt from all other provisions of the <span class="dictionary">insurance</span> <span class="dictionary"><span class="dictionary">laws</span></span> of this Commonwealth. <a id="paragraph-228016" class="section-permalink" href="https://vacode.org/38.2-4135/#F"><i class="fa fa-link"/></a></p></section></text><history>Code 1950, &#xA7;&#xA7; 38-258, 38.1-573; 1952, c. 317, &#xA7; 38.1-638.5; 1968, c. 654; 1986, c. 562; 1995, c. 321.</history><metadata></metadata></law>
