How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at E*TRADE
Covers 5 investment, 9 retirement, and 4 deposit accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Brand change
Morgan Stanley completed its acquisition of E*TRADE on October 2, 2020, and the brand now operates as "E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley." E*TRADE is a business of Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC; securities forms are Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC forms and banking products are issued by Morgan Stanley Private Bank, N.A. The E*TRADE name, website (us.etrade.com), and the E*TRADE Beneficiary Services team remain active — estate and beneficiary claims are still opened at the E*TRADE Beneficiary Services line (888-402-0653) and etrade_estates@morganstanley.com, not through the separate Morgan Stanley wealth-management channel. Legacy self-directed E*TRADE accounts are still serviced under the E*TRADE brand, so heirs should start here rather than at Morgan Stanley Wealth Management. Effective October 2020.
E*TRADE is now part of Morgan Stanley. The procedures below reflect E*TRADE's accounts during the transition. View the Morgan Stanley estate planning page.
Phone1-800-387-2331
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-387-2331
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
E*TRADE Beneficiary Services
Phone1-888-402-0653
Toll-Free1-888-402-0653
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International
International Fax
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
There are two ways to keep your E*TRADE investment accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.
With 18 product types, E*TRADE 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.
Premium Savings AccountMax-Rate Checking AccountChecking AccountCertificate of Deposit (CD)
1
Log in to your E*TRADE account at us.etrade.com
2
For brokerage accounts:
- Navigate to Customer Service > Account Management > Transfer on Death (TOD) Registration
- Add primary beneficiaries with percentage allocations totaling 100%
- Optionally add contingent (secondary) beneficiaries
- Provide each beneficiary's name, relationship, percentage, SSN, and address
3
For trusts as beneficiary: provide trust name, date established, and EIN
4
For other account types:
- IRA accounts: use the separate Designation of Beneficiary (IRA) form online or download the PDF
- Bank accounts (POD): download the Designation of Beneficiary - Bank Account form from forms-applications
5
Community property exception: married residents of AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI, Puerto Rico, or Guam are INELIGIBLE to use the online TOD form if they are naming anyone other than their spouse as primary beneficiary. They must use the paper Designation of Beneficiary form (https://content.etrade.com/etrade/mssb/pdf/Trans_on_Death2.pdf) and complete the Spousal Waiver in Section 3
6
Review and confirm your designations (a new designation replaces all previous designations on that account)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- The TOD form can only be used on Individual and JTWROS brokerage accounts; the bank POD form only on Individual and JTWROS Morgan Stanley Private Bank accounts
- Spousal Waiver: married residents of community property/marital property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI, Guam, Puerto Rico) who name someone other than their spouse as 100% primary beneficiary must have the spouse sign the waiver in Section 3 of the TOD or bank POD form
- Married community property state residents naming a non-spouse primary beneficiary cannot use the online TOD tool and must submit the paper form
- Trusts can be named as TOD, POD, or IRA beneficiaries — on the bank POD form, list the trust name and the date of the trust, not the trustee
- The account holder certifies that their state of residence permits TOD registration; Morgan Stanley does not verify state-law compliance
- A new designation replaces all previous beneficiary designations on that account; designations made at another firm are not recognized
- If no primary or contingent beneficiary survives the account holder, the assets pass to the account holder's estate
- Beneficiaries must open an E*TRADE account to receive the transferred assets
- No Medallion Signature Guarantee is required on the TOD or bank POD designation forms
- Completed forms can be uploaded at documentupload.etrade.com, faxed to 1-866-650-0003, or mailed
Sources
Data sourced from E*TRADE primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these E*TRADE instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against E*TRADE primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Phone1-800-387-2331
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-387-2331
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International Fax
WebsiteLearn more→
E*TRADE Beneficiary Services
Phone1-888-402-0653
Toll-Free1-888-402-0653
Fax1-866-650-0003
Mailing Address
E*TRADE from Morgan Stanley, P.O. Box 484, Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484
International
International Fax
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your E*TRADE accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
