How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Guardian
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by phone or by mail
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 13 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.
Beneficiary form at Guardian
Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (TITLE-BENE, 07/24) (for life insurance policys), Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies ("TITLE-OWNER BENE", 07/24) (for life insurance policys) and Annuity Non-Financial Service Request (EB-016502) (for annuitys).
Open the form →- 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)
- A representative can guide you through the process or send required forms
- Or contact your Guardian financial professional directly
- Beneficiary change only: "Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies" (TITLE-BENE, 07/24)
- Owner change (including a transfer to an ILIT), with or without a beneficiary change: "Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies" ("TITLE-OWNER BENE", 07/24)
- Or call 1-888-482-7342, or ask your Guardian financial professional, to have the form sent to you
- All beneficiaries must be restated, even those you are not changing; if you change only the contingent beneficiary you must still restate the primary beneficiary
- Percentages must total 100% in each beneficiary section; if no percentages are entered, Guardian pays the named beneficiaries in equal shares
- For a trust beneficiary: enter the trust name, the trust date in the birth/trust date field, the trust TIN, and the relationship to the insured
- Initial and date any correction on the form, or Guardian may not be able to accept the request
- The instruction page itself does not need to be returned
- Mail to: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
- Or email to ILSolutions@glic.com
- Or fax to 610-807-2720
Required Documents
- Each beneficiary's details (for every beneficiary named). Full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address and relationship to the insured
- Trust details for a trust beneficiary (a trust is named beneficiary). The trust name, the trust date in the birth/trust date field, the trust TIN, and the relationship to the insured
- Custodian details for a minor beneficiary (a minor is a beneficiary). The custodian's full legal name and relationship to the insured, the minor's name and date of birth, and the custodial state
- Completed beneficiary change form, all pages (changing by mail)
- Power of attorney documents (an agent under a power of attorney signs). The entire POA document, plus a POA affidavit if the document is more than three years old
- Corporate resolution (a corporate or LLC owner signs). On corporate letterhead signed by the President and/or Corporate Secretary, or Guardian's Certification of Corporate/Entity Resolution template
- Corporate resolution from the assignee (every ownership change on a collaterally assigned policy)
- Retirement plan document (a qualified retirement plan becomes the new owner). Pages 1 and 2 plus all signature pages of the plan document, with a completed No Administrative Service Agreement Form
- Whether to name the trust as beneficiary or transfer policy ownership to an ILIT
- The differences between revocable and irrevocable trust options
- Complete the beneficiary change form (TITLE-BENE, 07/24) from the life insurance forms page
- Enter the trust name, the trust date, the trust TIN, and the relationship to the insured; restate every other beneficiary
- Complete the "Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies" form ("TITLE-OWNER BENE", 07/24), Section 3 (Change of Owner), naming the trust as the new owner
- The form must be signed and dated by the current owner and the new owner (the trustee)
- The new owner completes a tax certification (the W-9 equivalent) in Section 2, so the trustee certifies the trust's TIN and backup-withholding status; "Applied for" allows 60 days for a certified TIN
- A Trust Certification form (TRUST-CERT-2024) must be included with the request whenever the new owner is a trust
- A clear copy of government-issued ID is required for ownership changes on all variable life policies
- If the policy is collaterally assigned, the collateral assignee must sign and a corporate resolution is required
- Section 3 provides for a contingent owner "in the event there are no living primary owner(s)"
- If two people will co-own, check Joint Tenants or Tenants in Common; Guardian states that "if no box is checked, ownership will default to joint tenants"
- Trust name, trust TIN (a "TIN applied for" box gives 60 days to supply a certified TIN), effective date, situs (required for new applications only), and trust address
- Whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable, and whether it is a grantor trust; if a grantor trust, the grantor's name, SSN/TIN, date of birth, and relationship to the trustees
- Who the current beneficiaries of the trust are, and whether an attorney prepared the trust document
- Trustee names, SSNs, phone and email, and whether transactions require any one trustee, all trustees, or a majority
- The trustee's certification that the trust allows the trustee to buy life insurance and securities and to exercise all ownership rights
- An insurable-interest certification covering people related to the insured by blood or law, with a substantial interest from love and affection, or with a lawful economic interest
- A tax certification (the W-9 equivalent) signed by the trustee, with separate boxes for a foreign trust or a U.S. grantor trust whose grantor is a non-resident alien, which require an IRS Form W-8
- Signatures of all trustees, unless one trustee has authority to sign for the entire trust
- Mail to: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
- Or email to ILSolutions@glic.com, or fax to 610-807-2720
Required Documents
- Guardian Trust Certification form (TRUST-CERT-2024) (a trust becomes the policy owner). Guardian's preferred document; it certifies the trustee's powers in lieu of reading the trust
- The trust document (pension trust, premium financing or captive insurance cases, or an insured 70 or more with $1,000,000 or more of face amount). Guardian accepts a full trust agreement or a Certificate of Trust
- Completed "TITLE-OWNER BENE" request (transferring a policy to an ILIT). Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (07/24)
- Completed TITLE-BENE request (the trust is only being named as beneficiary). Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (07/24)
- Trust details. Trust name, effective date, situs, address and TIN, or the "applied for" election with 60 days to supply a certified TIN
- Other trust information on the Trust Certification. Revocable or irrevocable status, grantor trust details, current beneficiaries, who prepared the trust document, and an insurable-interest certification
- Trustee names, SSNs and signatures. Signatures of all trustees unless one trustee has authority to sign for the trust
- Government-issued ID copy (an ownership change on a variable life policy). A clear copy
- Policy number and insured name. The policy number(s) and the insured's name
- Resignation and appointment letters (a trustee change on a trust-owned policy)
- UGMA/UTMA Certification Form (UTMA ownership)
- Government-issued ID copy for an annuity owner (an annuity ownership change). A clear and valid copy of the new owner's (and any joint owner's) current ID, with a Trust Certification for GIAC customers
What Guardian says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is Guardian's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary3
- Life insurance policy
Guardian states that "for most policy types, you can skip the form and submit your request online".1
- Annuity
Annuity beneficiary changes use a different form from a different insurer: the Annuity Non-Financial Service Request (EB-016502) for GIAC contracts, with a separate form required for each contract number.2
- Employer retirement plan
A new owner of a policy that is a qualified retirement plan must also be the beneficiary.3
Who can be named5
- A person
Class designations may be used in place of named individuals: Children of the Insured and Grandchildren of the Insured.4
- The estate
The Insured's Estate may be named as a class designation.4
- A trust
A trust can be named as a primary or contingent beneficiary. A trust beneficiary needs the trust name, the trust date in the birth/trust date field, and the trust TIN.4
- A trust created by a will
"Trustee under the Insured's Last Will & Testament" may be named. 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.4
- A minor
A minor cannot receive proceeds directly. A UTMA/UGMA custodian, guardian, or trust must be designated.4
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Percentages must total 100% in each beneficiary section. If they are left blank, Guardian pays the named beneficiaries in equal shares.4
When unequal percentages are used, Guardian does not allow further beneficiaries to be listed on the standard form. A call is needed so a special form can be prepared.4
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
In AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA and WI, a married owner who names someone other than the spouse as sole primary beneficiary must have the spouse sign the form. An unmarried owner in one of those states checks a box instead.4
Signatures need to be notarized only if Guardian specifically requests it.4
- Life insurance policy
If an agent under a power of attorney signs, the agent signs in that capacity and attaches the entire POA document, with a POA affidavit if the document is more than three years old.4
By signing, the owner certifies under penalty of perjury that "no bankruptcy proceedings are now pending against me" and jointly and severally indemnifies Guardian for acting on the instructions given.4
- Trust account
A trust-owned policy needs the signatures of all trustees, unless one trustee has authority to sign for the whole trust and proof of that authority is attached.4
- Business account
A corporate or LLC owner signs through an officer, manager or member other than the insured.3
Beneficiary forms Guardian issues3
- Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (TITLE-BENE, 07/24)
For life insurance policys. Available to download.4
Return to
Email: ILSolutions@glic.com
Fax: 1-610-807-2720
Mailing address: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
- Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies ("TITLE-OWNER BENE", 07/24)
For life insurance policys. Available to download.3
Return to
Email: ILSolutions@glic.com
Fax: 1-610-807-2720
Mailing address: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
- Annuity Non-Financial Service Request (EB-016502)
For annuitys. Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: P.O. Box 981592, El Paso, TX 79998-1592
What Guardian's agreement says about beneficiaries2
- Changing or revoking a designation
Guardian states that "once Guardian receives this form, all other documents pertaining to beneficiaries will be null and void." A beneficiary who is to continue must be named again on the form.4
Irrevocable beneficiary designations cannot be changed by the owner alone.4
- A beneficiary who dies first
Per stirpes is a checkbox that applies to every beneficiary listed in that section. Guardian defines it as paying a predeceased beneficiary's share in equal shares to that beneficiary's surviving children, ahead of any other beneficiary.4
Without per stirpes, on equal shares a predeceased beneficiary's portion goes to the surviving beneficiaries in the same class. On unequal shares it goes to the owner or the owner's estate, into probate.4
State requirements Guardian statesMassachusetts
- Massachusetts
If the owner or the insured resides in Massachusetts, a disinterested party (anyone over 18 other than the owner, insured, beneficiary, or agent) must witness the owner's signature. The instructions state "Only required for beneficiary changes".3
Which accounts a trust can hold2
- Life insurance policy
A trust can be named beneficiary while policy ownership stays with the owner.4
A transfer of policy ownership to an ILIT is a Change of Owner, done on the same form as a beneficiary change and labeled "Title Change Form" on Guardian's forms page.3
- Annuity
The Guaranteed Lifetime Withdrawal Benefit rider and optional death benefit riders "may terminate on the date of an ownership change or assignment of the contract".2
If ownership changes to anyone other than the Owner and/or Secondary Annuitant appointed at issue, "the contract cannot be continued under the contract continuation provision". Changing the owner or adding a joint owner "may result in a loss of Joint Life payments benefits".2
Trust account forms Guardian issues4
- Guardian Trust Certification (TRUST-CERT-2024)
Available to download.5
Return to
Email: ILSolutions@glic.com
Fax: 1-610-807-2720
Mailing address: The Guardian Life Insurance Co. of America, P.O. Box 981590, El Paso, TX 79998-1590
- Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies ("TITLE-OWNER BENE", 07/24)
For life insurance policys. Available to download.3
- Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (TITLE-BENE, 07/24)
For life insurance policys. Available to download.4
- Annuity Non-Financial Service Request (EB-016502)
For annuitys. Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: P.O. Box 981592, El Paso, TX 79998-1592
What Guardian says about trust accounts5
- A trust as owner of a policy
A change of ownership takes effect when Guardian records it, using the date the request was signed. It does not apply to anything Guardian did before recording.3
Guardian's form states that changing owners may be a taxable event and that Guardian gives no tax advice.3
On an annuity owner's death, ownership passes to the named joint owner if living, then to the named designated successor owner if living, and only if the owner outlives all of them does it pass to the owner's estate.2
- Review of the trust document
The trustee certifies on the Trust Certification that the trust allows the trustee to buy life insurance and securities and to exercise all ownership rights (surrender, pledge or encumber, withdraw, distribute the policy to a trust beneficiary, or sell and transfer ownership).5
Guardian says the form "in many cases will eliminate the need for you to provide a copy of the trust documents for review". It still requires the documents for pension trust, premium financing and captive insurance company cases, and for an insured aged 70 or more with $1,000,000 or more in face amount.5
- Who signs for the trust
Transactions on the Trust Certification can be set to require any one trustee, all trustees, or a majority.5
- The trust's tax identification number
The Trust Certification has a "TIN applied for" box that gives 60 days to supply a certified TIN before backup withholding.5
- Online access
Guardian warns that "product availability and functionality on our website may vary for trust-owned policies". The Trust Certification has an "online access" checkbox per trustee.5
State requirements Guardian statesCalifornia
- California
EB-016502 states that certain contracts issued in California may not terminate the death benefit on an ownership change or assignment.2
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- GIAC
Annuity contracts, with a separate request form for each contract number2
- Talcott Resolution Life Insurance Company
Guardian annuity contracts, as their administrator, through the Guardian links on the Talcott contact page6
Not in Guardian's published guidance1
- A separate absolute-assignment form
Sources6
- 1.Guardian account login
- 2.Annuity Non-Financial Service Request (EB-016502)
- 3.Request for Ownership or Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (TITLE-OWNER BENE, 07/24)
- 4.Request for Beneficiary Change for Individual Life Policies (TITLE-BENE, 07/24)
- 5.Guardian Trust Certification (TRUST-CERT-2024)
- 6.Talcott Resolution contact page (Talcott Resolution record)
Sources
Data sourced from Guardian primary sources (15 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 estate support
Guardian Customer Support (1-888-GUARDIAN)
Phone
Guardian headquarters
Berkshire Life Insurance Company of America
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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