First, to the beneficiary or beneficiaries whom the judge may have designated in writing to the Secretary of the Treasury prior to the judge's death;
Second, if there be no such beneficiary, to the widow or widower of the judge;
Third, if none of the above, to the child or children of the judge and the descendants of any deceased children by representation;
Fourth, if none of the above, to the parents of the judge or the survivor of them;
Fifth, if none of the above, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of such judge;
Sixth, if none of the above, to such other next of kin of the judge as may be determined by the Secretary of the Treasury to be entitled under the laws of the domicile of the judge at the time of the judge's death.
the lump-sum credit shall be paid, upon the establishment of a valid claim therefor, to the person or persons surviving at the date title to the payment arises, in the following order of precedence, and such payment shall be a bar to recovery by any other person:
Determination as to the widow, widower, or child of a judge for purposes of this subsection shall be made by the Secretary of the Treasury without regard to the definitions in section 11-1561.
First, to the duly appointed executor or administrator of the estate of the annuitant;
Second, if there is no such executor or administrator, payment may be made, after the expiration of thirty days from the date of death of the annuitant, to such person or persons as may appear in the judgment of the Secretary of the Treasury to be legally entitled thereto, and such payments shall be a bar to recovery by any other person.
D.C. Code § 11-1569