How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at BlackRock
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken online, by phone or by mail
Estate planning for your BlackRock investment accounts starts with understanding how each one transfers at death. Beneficiary designations and trust retitling both bypass probate, but the right approach depends on the account type, your tax situation, and how much control you want over distributions.
With 17 product types, BlackRock offers a range of transfer options. Some investment accounts support Transfer on Death (TOD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
Beneficiary form at BlackRock
Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration Form (for investment accounts), IRA Change of Beneficiary Form (for IRAs), 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form (for employer retirement plans), Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form (for coverdell education savings accounts) and 529 Change of Registration Form (for 529 plans).
Open the form →- Add or update primary and contingent beneficiaries with allocation percentages (primaries must total 100%, contingents must total 100%)
- For IRA accounts, a primary beneficiary must be designated before a contingent can be added
- If naming a trust, have the trust name, trustee name(s), and trust date ready
- The TOD Registration Form
- The IRA Change of Beneficiary Form
- The 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form
- The Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form
- Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security or federal tax ID number, and relationship
- For a trust beneficiary: trust name, trustee name(s), and trust date
- For a minor beneficiary: the custodian's name under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
- TOD Registration Form: non-retirement mutual fund accounts
- IRA Change of Beneficiary Form: Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs
- 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form: 403(b) custodial accounts
- Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form: Coverdell ESAs
- 529 Change of Registration Form: to name or update a Successor Account Owner on a CollegeAdvantage 529
- Allocate 100% among primary beneficiaries and 100% among contingent beneficiaries; unstated percentages default to equal shares
- For a trust, foundation, or other entity beneficiary: give the entity name, the trustee or authorized signer, the trust date, and the entity tax ID
- Section 3 of the TOD Registration Form must be signed by all account owners; if the account is jointly owned, each owner must sign any later revision
- Mutual fund and IRA accounts, regular mail: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- Mutual fund and IRA accounts, overnight: BlackRock Funds, Attention: 534429, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Mutual fund and IRA fax: 844-569-5573 (BlackRock may not accept a faxed copy when a Medallion Signature Guarantee or notary stamp is required)
- CollegeAdvantage 529, regular mail: BlackRock 529, P.O. Box 534433, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4433; overnight: Attention 534433, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; fax 833-778-3739
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security or federal tax ID number
- Beneficiary's relationship to the owner
- Trust name, trustee name(s) and trust date (when naming a trust)
- Entity name, trustee or authorized signer, trust date and entity tax ID (for a trust, foundation or other entity named on a form)
- Custodian's name under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (for a minor beneficiary)
- BlackRock account number (by phone)
- Full name of the trust
- Trust date
- Trustee name(s)
- Trust tax ID (EIN, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable living trust)
- Trust name
- Trust date
- Trustee name(s)
- Trust tax ID number
- New Account Application: to open a new trust-registered account
- Change of Registration Form: to re-register an existing individual, joint, or UTMA account into a trust
- Copy of the pertinent trust pages showing trust name, date, trustees' names, and the signature and certification pages
- Trust tax ID (EIN, or grantor SSN for a revocable living trust)
- A recently dated copy of any power of attorney, plus BlackRock's own Power of Attorney Registration Form, if a POA will act on the account
- Regular mail: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- Overnight: BlackRock Funds, Attention: 534429, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Fax: 844-569-5573 (not accepted where a Medallion Signature Guarantee or notary is required)
Required Documents
- Pertinent trust pages showing the trust name, trust date and grantor. BlackRock's forms ask for copies of the pertinent pages of the trust agreement rather than the complete trust
- Trust pages establishing trustee authority and powers
- Signature and certification pages of the trust agreement
- Certification of Trust or Trust Abstract. Confirm acceptance with Mutual Fund Services before mailing
- Trust tax ID number. An EIN, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable living trust
- Name, address, date of birth and Social Security or tax ID number (for every person listed on the new registration). BlackRock verifies these under the USA PATRIOT Act
- Trust amendments (if any)
- Medallion Signature Guarantee, Signature Verification Stamp or notary seal (on the Change of Registration Form). Signatures "typically require a medallion signature guarantee or notary stamp"; BlackRock's team says which stamp is needed
- Power of Attorney Registration Form and a recently dated copy of the POA (if a power of attorney will sign)
- Add or update primary and contingent beneficiaries with allocation percentages (primaries must total 100%, contingents must total 100%)
- For IRA accounts, a primary beneficiary must be designated before a contingent can be added
- If naming a trust, have the trust name, trustee name(s), and trust date ready
- The TOD Registration Form
- The IRA Change of Beneficiary Form
- The 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form
- The Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form
- Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security or federal tax ID number, and relationship
- For a trust beneficiary: trust name, trustee name(s), and trust date
- For a minor beneficiary: the custodian's name under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act
- TOD Registration Form: non-retirement mutual fund accounts
- IRA Change of Beneficiary Form: Traditional, Roth, Rollover, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs
- 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form: 403(b) custodial accounts
- Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form: Coverdell ESAs
- 529 Change of Registration Form: to name or update a Successor Account Owner on a CollegeAdvantage 529
- Allocate 100% among primary beneficiaries and 100% among contingent beneficiaries; unstated percentages default to equal shares
- For a trust, foundation, or other entity beneficiary: give the entity name, the trustee or authorized signer, the trust date, and the entity tax ID
- Section 3 of the TOD Registration Form must be signed by all account owners; if the account is jointly owned, each owner must sign any later revision
- Mutual fund and IRA accounts, regular mail: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- Mutual fund and IRA accounts, overnight: BlackRock Funds, Attention: 534429, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Mutual fund and IRA fax: 844-569-5573 (BlackRock may not accept a faxed copy when a Medallion Signature Guarantee or notary stamp is required)
- CollegeAdvantage 529, regular mail: BlackRock 529, P.O. Box 534433, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4433; overnight: Attention 534433, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222; fax 833-778-3739
Required Documents
- Beneficiary's full legal name
- Beneficiary's date of birth
- Beneficiary's Social Security or federal tax ID number
- Beneficiary's relationship to the owner
- Trust name, trustee name(s) and trust date (when naming a trust)
- Entity name, trustee or authorized signer, trust date and entity tax ID (for a trust, foundation or other entity named on a form)
- Custodian's name under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act (for a minor beneficiary)
- BlackRock account number (by phone)
- Full name of the trust
- Trust date
- Trustee name(s)
- Trust tax ID (EIN, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable living trust)
- Trust name
- Trust date
- Trustee name(s)
- Trust tax ID number
- New Account Application: to open a new trust-registered account
- Change of Registration Form: to re-register an existing individual, joint, or UTMA account into a trust
- Copy of the pertinent trust pages showing trust name, date, trustees' names, and the signature and certification pages
- Trust tax ID (EIN, or grantor SSN for a revocable living trust)
- A recently dated copy of any power of attorney, plus BlackRock's own Power of Attorney Registration Form, if a POA will act on the account
- Regular mail: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- Overnight: BlackRock Funds, Attention: 534429, 1350 Penn Avenue Suite 102, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
- Fax: 844-569-5573 (not accepted where a Medallion Signature Guarantee or notary is required)
Required Documents
- Pertinent trust pages showing the trust name, trust date and grantor. BlackRock's forms ask for copies of the pertinent pages of the trust agreement rather than the complete trust
- Trust pages establishing trustee authority and powers
- Signature and certification pages of the trust agreement
- Certification of Trust or Trust Abstract. Confirm acceptance with Mutual Fund Services before mailing
- Trust tax ID number. An EIN, or the grantor's SSN for a revocable living trust
- Name, address, date of birth and Social Security or tax ID number (for every person listed on the new registration). BlackRock verifies these under the USA PATRIOT Act
- Trust amendments (if any)
- Medallion Signature Guarantee, Signature Verification Stamp or notary seal (on the Change of Registration Form). Signatures "typically require a medallion signature guarantee or notary stamp"; BlackRock's team says which stamp is needed
- Power of Attorney Registration Form and a recently dated copy of the POA (if a power of attorney will sign)
What BlackRock says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is BlackRock's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary2
- Investment account
The TOD Registration Form may be used only by an individual owner, or by joint owners holding as tenants by the entirety or joint tenants with rights of survivorship. It "may not be used by corporations, trusts or tenants in common."1
A separate TOD Registration Form is required for each account that needs different beneficiaries. TOD registration on a non-retirement account is not available in every state.1
Who can be named4
- A person
An individual can be named as a beneficiary.3
- A minor
A custodian under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act can be named as a beneficiary.3
A custodian under the Uniform Gifts to Minors Act (UGMA) is "not eligible" as a beneficiary.3
- A trust
A trust can be named as a beneficiary.3
- A trust, IRAs
A trust can be named as an IRA beneficiary.3
- A business
A corporation, organization or other legal entity can be named as a beneficiary.3
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
What a designation takes to be effective
- Investment account
Section 3 of the TOD Registration Form must be signed by all account owners. If the account is jointly owned, each owner must sign any later revision.1
Beneficiary forms BlackRock issues5
- Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration Form
For investment accounts. Available to download.1
Return to
Fax: 1-844-569-5573
Mailing address: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- IRA Change of Beneficiary Form
For IRAs. Available to download.5
Return to
Fax: 1-844-569-5573
Mailing address: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- 403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form
For employer retirement plans. Available to download.6
- Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form
For coverdell education savings accounts. Completed online.7
- 529 Change of Registration Form
For 529 plans. Available to download.2
Return to
Fax: 1-833-778-3739
Mailing address: BlackRock 529, P.O. Box 534433, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4433
What BlackRock's agreement says about beneficiaries1
- A beneficiary who dies first
If a beneficiary dies before the owner (or the surviving joint owner), that share falls into the owner's estate and passes under the will or intestacy.3
With multiple beneficiaries, a deceased beneficiary's share is divided equally among the survivors rather than passing per stirpes.3
Which accounts a trust can hold4
- Investment account
Trust registration is available for mutual fund accounts held directly at BlackRock.3
- IRA
An IRA cannot be retitled to a trust; the trust can be named as its beneficiary instead.3
- Employer retirement plan
A 403(b) cannot be retitled to a trust; the trust can be named as its beneficiary instead.3
- 529 plan
A trust may serve as the account owner of a BlackRock CollegeAdvantage 529.3
Trust account forms BlackRock issues3
- Change of Registration Form
Completed by every existing owner. Available to download.8
Return to
Fax: 1-844-569-5573
Mailing address: BlackRock Funds, P.O. Box 534429, Pittsburgh, PA 15253-4429
- New Account Application
Completed online.9
- Power of Attorney Registration Form
Available to download.10
What BlackRock says about trust accounts1
- Whether a new account is opened
The Change of Registration Form cannot be used to open business, charitable organization, foundation, S- or C-corporation, or externally custodied retirement registrations. Those require a New Account Application.8
Sources10
- 1.Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration Form
- 2.529 Change of Registration Form
- 3.Forms and applications
- 4.BlackRock account portal for direct mutual fund and 529 accounts
- 5.IRA Change of Beneficiary Form
- 6.403(b) Beneficiary Designation/Change Form
- 7.Coverdell ESA Change of Designated Beneficiary Form
- 8.Change of Registration Form
- 9.New Account Application
- 10.Power of Attorney Registration Form
Sources
Data sourced from BlackRock primary sources (25 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these BlackRock instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against BlackRock primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
BlackRock estate support
Mutual Fund Services (Estate & Death Claims)
Phone
Fax
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your BlackRock accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.
New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn more
Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreForms for Planning Your Estate
Free forms for planning your estate: a will, living trust, pour-over will, both powers of attorney, living will, and TOD deed.
Revocable Living Trust
Create a revocable living trust to avoid probate, protect privacy, and control asset distribution.
Last Will and Testament
Name your heirs, guardians, and final wishes. Free for every state.
Transfer on Death Deed
Transfer real property to a beneficiary upon your death without probate. Available in 34 states and the District of Columbia.
Tools for Planning Your Estate
Free tools for planning your estate: what a will or trust costs, whether you need a trust or TOD deed, and how documents are signed.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare revocable living trust costs across providers including online services and attorneys.
How Does SimplyTrust Compare to LegalZoom, Trust & Will, and Other Services?
Compare what it costs to make a trust official across SimplyTrust, LegalZoom, Trust & Will, Rocket Lawyer, and Quicken WillMaker.
Do I Need a Revocable Trust?
Find out if a revocable trust makes sense based on your state, estate value, and family situation.
Trust or Will: Which Costs Less?
Compare the cost of probate vs a trust for your state and estate value.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
Compare costs across estate planning providers including online services and attorneys.
How Much Life Insurance Do I Need?
Calculate your life insurance needs based on income, debts, and family situation.
