Your brothers wife is one of the legal heirs. Though your mother (another legal heir) is named as a nominee under the said bond/policy.
In other words the payment can be received by your mother without any necessacity for her to prove her relation or credential since she is a named nominee under the bond.
The money so to be paid is actually received by the nominee on behalf of other legal members. Accordingly, on receipt of payment she is suppose to share the procceds with other respective legal heirs of your brother.
Secondly, your brothers wife may file a objection and wait till a decision is arrived by the bond company regarding the claimaints right over the money and to whom it may be passed to.
But in the process may be 1 year or more than 1 year may further pass before the payment is received by her or your mother. therefore, in the interest of all persons it is advisable to let the nominee (your mother ) receive the money and if, she agrees then the proceeds may be shared with other legal heir/members of your brother.
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