Estate planning at Ameritas
How to protect 22 Ameritas accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and file death claims
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance and Annuity Claims
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
Ameritas Claimant Portal
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
With 22 products relevant to estate planning, Ameritas policyholders need to understand how beneficiary designations control where proceeds go. These designations override a will, so the names on file with Ameritas are what determine who receives the death benefit.
Ameritas lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-20 minutes online; 2-4 weeks 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).
Ameritas provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust by mail, and review 22 account types at Ameritas.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Frequently asked questions
Yes. Ameritas supports ILIT ownership of life insurance policies. The trustee of the ILIT must be the actual owner shown on the insurance contract, which is different from simply naming the trust as beneficiary. To transfer ownership, complete the Policyowner's Change and Service Request form available through Ameritas Accounts or by calling 800-745-1112. Include a copy of the trust document or certification of trust. The ILIT should ideally own the policy from inception; if an existing policy is transferred, a three-year lookback rule applies for federal estate tax purposes under IRC 2035. Ameritas does not establish ILITs; work with an estate attorney to create one.
Sign in to Ameritas Accounts, select View Account on the desired policy number, and select the Forms tab to download the Policyowner's Change and Service Request form. Complete the ownership change section naming the trust as the new owner. Include the full legal trust name, date established, trustee name(s), and EIN. Attach a copy of the trust document or certification of trust. Upload the completed form through Ameritas Accounts or mail to Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501. You can also call 800-745-1112 for assistance.
Sign in to Ameritas Accounts at accounts.ameritas.com, select View Account on the desired policy number, then select the Forms tab and download the beneficiary change form. Complete the form with primary and contingent beneficiary information, including full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, relationships, and percentage allocations totaling 100%. For trusts, select trust as the beneficiary type and provide the full trust name, date established, and EIN. Upload the signed form through Ameritas Accounts or mail it to Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501. You can also call 800-745-1112 (Monday-Friday, 7:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. CT) to request a form.
Ameritas offers fixed annuities with guaranteed minimum interest rates and tax-deferred growth; index annuities including the Income 10, Accumulation 7, and ApexAdvantage, which link interest to market index performance with downside protection through a guaranteed floor; and the Advisor No-Load Variable Annuity with more than 70 investment options and no sales charges. Index and fixed annuities provide principal protection, while the variable annuity allows investment in professionally managed funds. All annuity products support beneficiary designations and can have a trust named as beneficiary or owner.
Ameritas offers two individual disability income products. DInamic Cornerstone Income Protection provides monthly benefit payments for professionals and highly compensated individuals, with riders including Student Loan Repayment, Lump Sum Savings, Enhanced Plus Residual, and Benefit Increase. It offers noncancelable and guaranteed renewable options with specialty language for physicians and dentists. DInamic Fundamental is a lump-sum disability product for middle-income earners and homemakers, providing a single payment if a disability prevents earning income and is expected to last at least a year, with no elimination period. Ameritas also offers Business Overhead Expense insurance for business owners.
Sources
Data sourced from Ameritas primary sources (26 pages reviewed). How we research.
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance, Annuity & Disability Income Service
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Insurance and Annuity Claims
Phone1-800-745-1112
Mailing Address
Ameritas Life Insurance Corp., PO Box 81889, Lincoln, NE 68501
New York Customers
Ameritas Claimant Portal
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Ameritas accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
