How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Aflac
Covers 14 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Aflac Customer Solutions Center
Aflac Consumer Response & Resolution Department, PO Box 5388, Columbus, GA 31906-0388
Policy Service Department
Aflac, Attn: Policy Service Department, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999-7000
Claims Department
Aflac, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999
Estate planning with Aflac policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.
Across 14 product types, Aflac policies vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through beneficiary designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
- Full legal names, dates of birth, relationships, and percentage allocations totaling 100%
- For trusts: select trust as beneficiary type and provide the full legal trust name, date established, and trust EIN
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- You can name individuals, trusts, or qualifying charitable organizations as beneficiaries
- Multiple primary and contingent beneficiaries can be designated
- Percentage allocations must total 100% for each beneficiary tier
- Supplemental policies (accident, cancer, critical illness) also allow beneficiary designations
- Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
- Only the policyholder can change beneficiary designations
- Children under 18 cannot receive benefits directly; name a custodian or trust instead
- New York policyholders use a separate form: ny-request-for-beneficiary-change.pdf
Sources
Data sourced from Aflac primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Aflac instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Aflac primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Aflac Customer Solutions Center
Aflac Consumer Response & Resolution Department, PO Box 5388, Columbus, GA 31906-0388
Policy Service Department
Aflac, Attn: Policy Service Department, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999-7000
Claims Department
Aflac, 1932 Wynnton Road, Columbus, GA 31999
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Aflac accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
