With 14 products relevant to estate planning, Aflac policyholders need to understand how beneficiary designations control where proceeds go. These designations override a will, so the names on file with Aflac are what determine who receives the death benefit.

Aflac lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 10-15 minutes online; 15-20 minutes by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the policy beneficiary or establish an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).

There are two sides to estate planning at Aflac: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.

Preparing your estate

Beneficiaries and trust funding

How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust online, and review 14 account types at Aflac.

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When someone dies

Death claim process

Contact Aflac's Policy Service Department to file a claim. 5-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.

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For questions about any of these procedures, contact Aflac's Policy Service Department at 1-800-992-3522.

Frequently asked questions

Log in to your MyAflac account at mylogin.aflac.com, click on Policy Summary/Forms/History for the policy you want to update, and select Change Beneficiary Online. You can add primary and contingent beneficiaries with percentage allocations. You can also download the Request for Beneficiary Change form and submit it by mail to Aflac, Attn: Policy Service Department, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999-7000, or by fax to 800-448-8922. New York policyholders should use the NY-specific beneficiary change form available on aflac.com or call 800-366-3436.

Supplemental insurance policies (accident, cancer, critical illness, hospital, dental, disability) pay cash benefits directly to the policyholder and cannot be retitled to a trust. However, life insurance policies (whole life, term life, and final expense) can name a trust as beneficiary. To designate a trust as beneficiary on a life insurance policy, log in to MyAflac and select Change Beneficiary Online, or download the Request for Beneficiary Change form. Provide the full legal trust name, date established, and trust EIN.