How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Guardian
Covers 12 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Guardian Claims -- Individual Life (option 2)
The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
Estate planning with Guardian 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.
With 12 product types, Guardian offers a range of transfer options. Some policies support beneficiary designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- For trusts: provide the trust name, date established, and trust EIN
- Specify percentage allocations (must total 100% for primary and 100% for contingent beneficiaries)
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- All beneficiaries must be restated even if not changing -- changing only the contingent beneficiary still requires restating the primary beneficiary
- All pages of the form must be completed and returned
- Print clearly using blue or black ink; initial and date any corrections, or Guardian may not accept the request
- Percentages must total 100% in each beneficiary section; if left blank, Guardian pays in equal shares
- Per stirpes designation is available; without it, an unequal-share designation pays a predeceased beneficiary's share to the owner or the owner's estate
- Community property states (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI): a married owner who names someone other than the spouse as sole primary beneficiary must have the spouse sign the form
- Trusts can be named as primary or contingent beneficiaries; a trust beneficiary needs the trust name, trust date, and trust TIN
- Naming "Trustee under the insured's Last Will and Testament" (a testamentary trust): if the insured dies without a valid will, or no trust is created within 90 days of death, Guardian pays the proceeds to the owner or the owner's estate
- Irrevocable beneficiary designations cannot be changed by the owner alone
- Minors cannot receive proceeds directly -- a custodian (UTMA), guardian, or trust must be designated
- Annuity beneficiary changes use a separate Non-Financial Service Change Form (EB-016502) mailed to P.O. Box 981592, El Paso, TX 79998-1592
Sources
Data sourced from Guardian primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Guardian instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Guardian primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Guardian Claims -- Individual Life (option 2)
The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
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