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Home→Financial Institutions→Fidelity→Preparing your estate

How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Fidelity

Covers 8 investment, 1 deposit, 16 retirement, and 4 crypto accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online

OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies

Fidelity

Subsidiary of FMR LLC

fidelity.com→
Fidelity logo

Customer Service

Phone1-800-343-3548
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002

Automated Service (FAST)
1-800-544-5555
Workplace/401(k) (NetBenefits)
1-800-835-5095
Managed Accounts
1-800-544-3455
College Planning (529)
1-800-544-1914
International Trading
1-800-544-2976
Existing Annuities
1-800-634-9361
New Annuities
1-800-345-1388
Fidelity Debit Card
1-800-323-5353
WebsiteLearn more→

Customer Service

Phone1-800-343-3548
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002

Automated Service (FAST)
1-800-544-5555
Workplace/401(k) (NetBenefits)
1-800-835-5095
Managed Accounts
1-800-544-3455
College Planning (529)
1-800-544-1914
International Trading
1-800-544-2976
Existing Annuities
1-800-634-9361
New Annuities
1-800-345-1388
Fidelity Debit Card
1-800-323-5353
WebsiteLearn more→

Death Claims / Beneficiary Distribution

Phone1-800-522-7297
Toll-Free1-800-522-7297
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0039

Retirement Account Transition Services
1-800-544-0003
Nonretirement Inheritance (trusts, annuities, brokerage, bank)
1-800-544-4374
Term Life Insurance Claims (policies after 10/10/2022)
1-844-519-5433
Term Life Insurance Claims (policies before 10/10/2022)
1-888-343-8376
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026

Preparing your Fidelity investment accounts for estate transfer involves two primary strategies: designating beneficiaries on individual accounts and, where supported, retitling accounts into a revocable living trust. Both approaches bypass probate, but they work differently depending on the account type.

With 29 product types, Fidelity 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.

Fidelity Cash Management Account
1
Log in to Fidelity.com
2
Select your profile icon and navigate to the Beneficiaries page under Your Profile
3
Select the account you want to update
4
Add beneficiaries with percentage allocations totaling 100%:
  • Add primary beneficiaries
  • Optionally add contingent (secondary) beneficiaries
5
Provide required information for each beneficiary:
  • Full legal name and date of birth
  • Social Security number (recommended for easier future transfers)
  • For trusts as beneficiary: trust name, date established, and tax ID number (do not send the trust agreement)
6
Review and confirm your designations electronically
Online Portal→

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • Named beneficiaries override your will
  • Not all account types are eligible for electronic beneficiary updates online
  • Spousal consent may be required for employer-sponsored retirement accounts (401(k), 403(b))
  • Retirement accounts (IRA/HSA) use a separate Beneficiaries - IRA/HSA form, not the nonretirement TOD form

Fidelity

Subsidiary of FMR LLC

fidelity.com→
Fidelity logo

Customer Service

Phone1-800-343-3548
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002

Automated Service (FAST)
1-800-544-5555
Workplace/401(k) (NetBenefits)
1-800-835-5095
Managed Accounts
1-800-544-3455
College Planning (529)
1-800-544-1914
International Trading
1-800-544-2976
Existing Annuities
1-800-634-9361
New Annuities
1-800-345-1388
Fidelity Debit Card
1-800-323-5353
WebsiteLearn more→

Customer Service

Phone1-800-343-3548
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0002

Automated Service (FAST)
1-800-544-5555
Workplace/401(k) (NetBenefits)
1-800-835-5095
Managed Accounts
1-800-544-3455
College Planning (529)
1-800-544-1914
International Trading
1-800-544-2976
Existing Annuities
1-800-634-9361
New Annuities
1-800-345-1388
Fidelity Debit Card
1-800-323-5353
WebsiteLearn more→

Death Claims / Beneficiary Distribution

Phone1-800-522-7297
Toll-Free1-800-522-7297
Mailing Address

Fidelity Investments, P.O. Box 770001, Cincinnati, OH 45277-0039

Retirement Account Transition Services
1-800-544-0003
Nonretirement Inheritance (trusts, annuities, brokerage, bank)
1-800-544-4374
Term Life Insurance Claims (policies after 10/10/2022)
1-844-519-5433
Term Life Insurance Claims (policies before 10/10/2022)
1-888-343-8376
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your Fidelity 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.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Estate planning articles

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

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