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OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies
SimplyTrust forms
Letter of Instruction
Home→Financial Institutions→CalPERS→Preparing your estate

How to designate beneficiaries at CalPERS

Covers 7 state-pension accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

CalPERS

State Pension System · Select States

calpers.ca.gov→
CalPERS logo

CalPERS Customer Contact Center

Phone888-225-7377
Fax800-959-6545
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711

TTY
877-249-7442
Secondary fax
916-795-3950
WebsiteLearn more→

CalPERS Customer Contact Center

Phone888-225-7377
Fax800-959-6545
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711

TTY
877-249-7442
Secondary fax
916-795-3950
WebsiteLearn more→

CalPERS Disability & Survivor Benefits Division

Phone888-225-7377
Fax916-795-3933
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Disability & Survivor Benefits Division, Survivor Benefits, P.O. Box 942715, Sacramento, CA 94229-2715

Survivor Benefits Division TTY
916-795-3240
Completed application fax
800-959-6545
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

Preparing your CalPERS benefits for your family means choosing the right retirement payment option and keeping your survivor and death-benefit beneficiaries current. The option you elect at retirement, and the beneficiary on file, control what CalPERS pays at death—these choices override your will.

The transfer rules at CalPERS vary across 7 pension benefits. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.

SimplyTrustSimplyTrust Editorial·Updated July 12, 2026

Sources

  • calpers.ca.gov
  • news.calpers.ca.gov

Data sourced from CalPERS primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.

Download these CalPERS instructions

Download instructions for the whole estate→

A printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against CalPERS primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.

CalPERS

State Pension System · Select States

calpers.ca.gov→
CalPERS logo

CalPERS Customer Contact Center

Phone888-225-7377
Fax800-959-6545
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711

TTY
877-249-7442
Secondary fax
916-795-3950
WebsiteLearn more→

CalPERS Customer Contact Center

Phone888-225-7377
Fax800-959-6545
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Retirement Benefit Services Division, P.O. Box 942711, Sacramento, CA 94229-2711

TTY
877-249-7442
Secondary fax
916-795-3950
WebsiteLearn more→

CalPERS Disability & Survivor Benefits Division

Phone888-225-7377
Fax916-795-3933
Mailing Address

CalPERS, Disability & Survivor Benefits Division, Survivor Benefits, P.O. Box 942715, Sacramento, CA 94229-2715

Survivor Benefits Division TTY
916-795-3240
Completed application fax
800-959-6545
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your CalPERS accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

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Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your CalPERS accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Reimbursable Trustee Expenses: A Clear Overview

Which trustee expenses does a trust reimburse?
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SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Refundable Executor Expenses: What Estates Cover

Learn which out-of-pocket costs executors recover from estates.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 13, 2026
Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on Trusts: What We Agree and Disagree On

Dave Ramsey on trusts: any estate plan at all is a good thing. We agree about that. There's one thing we don't agree with him about on trusts, though.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

Jean Chatzky on Estate Planning: It’s a Gift

On estate planning, Jean Chatzky's most important reframe may be the simplest one. She says estate planning isn’t about your passing, it’s about your love for family.
Estate Planning
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJuly 6, 2026
Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

Robert Kiyosaki on Trusts: A Structural Necessity

According to Robert Kiyosaki, trusts are a necessity for everyone, not only the wealthy.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026
Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on Estate Planning: Start With a Living Trust

Ramit Sethi on estate planning: start with a living trust and have regular conversations with your heirs about how to manage finances when the trust becomes active.
Trusts
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialJune 30, 2026

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption

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.

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Marriage

Marriage

What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.

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New Home

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.

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Retirement

Retirement

Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.

Learn more