How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Gerber Life
Covers 7 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Phone1-800-704-2180
Toll-Free1-800-704-2180
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
Rapid Response Line (24/7 Self-Service)
Video Relay Service
Grow-Up Plan
Young Adult Plan
College Plan
Family Plan Term
Family Plan Whole
Guaranteed Plan
Accident Protection Plan
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Claims Processing Unit
Phone1-800-628-0560
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-628-0560
Toll-Free1-800-628-0560
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
Gerber Life Insurance Company, Life Claims Processing Unit, 445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning with Gerber Life policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.
Gerber Life has 7 policies with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Gerber Life Grow-Up PlanGerber Life Young Adult PlanGerber Life Family Plan Term Life InsuranceGerber Life Family Plan Whole Life InsuranceGerber Life Guaranteed Life InsuranceGerber Life College PlanGerber Life Accident Protection Insurance
1
Log in and navigate to the beneficiary update:
- Log in to your Gerber Life eService account at gerberlife.com
- Navigate to "My Policies" and select "Manage This Policy" for the policy you want to update
- Click the "Update" button next to Beneficiary
2
Complete the beneficiary change form:
- Enter full legal names, dates of birth, relationships, and percentage allocations
- For trusts: select trust as the beneficiary type and provide the full legal trust name, date established, and trust EIN
3
Submit the form:
- Download the PDF of the Change of Beneficiary Form when prompted
- Print, sign, and mail the completed form to Gerber Life
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- The eService portal generates the beneficiary change form, but it must be printed, signed, and mailed or faxed
- Beneficiary designations on life insurance policies override instructions in a will
- Multiple primary and contingent beneficiaries can be designated
- Percentage allocations must total 100% for each beneficiary tier
- A trust can be named as beneficiary to manage the death benefit
- For child policies (Grow-Up Plan), the policy owner (parent or guardian) designates the beneficiary
- Children under 18 cannot receive benefits directly; name a custodian or trust instead
- All policy owners must sign the Change of Beneficiary form
Phone1-800-704-2180
Toll-Free1-800-704-2180
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
Rapid Response Line (24/7 Self-Service)
Video Relay Service
Grow-Up Plan
Young Adult Plan
College Plan
Family Plan Term
Family Plan Whole
Guaranteed Plan
Accident Protection Plan
WebsiteLearn more→
Life Claims Processing Unit
Phone1-800-628-0560
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-800-628-0560
Toll-Free1-800-628-0560
Fax1-231-928-3078
Mailing Address
Gerber Life Insurance Company, Life Claims Processing Unit, 445 State Street, Fremont, MI 49412
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Gerber Life accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
