What to do when a Guideline account holder dies
Contact Guideline — 5-step process, 7 required documents, and varies; distribution election form sent via docusign after document review is complete
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-344-5188
Toll-Free1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., Attn: Customer Success, 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
Verified Apr 2026
What happens to Guideline retirement accounts after the account holder dies depends on how each account was titled. Beneficiary-designated and trust-owned accounts transfer directly. Accounts in the deceased's name alone go through the estate, and the executor or administrator works with Guideline's Death Claims (1-888-344-5188) to claim the funds.
Gather the account holder's full name, date of birth, and any known account or policy numbers before contacting Guideline. A certified death certificate is the primary document required to start any claim.
Death claim process
To file a claim after an account holder's death, here is what Guideline requires:
Filing a claim
1
Do NOT log into the deceased participant's account (this triggers a security lockout)
2
Gather and submit required documentation:
- Certified death certificate and color copy of government-issued photo ID
- Mail copies of all required documents to Guideline
- Contact Participant Support at 888-344-5188 or support@guideline.com after mailing documents
3
Guideline reviews and processes the claim:
- Guideline reviews documents and confirms beneficiary status
- Account details are withheld until beneficiary status is confirmed
4
Beneficiary receives a Distribution Election Form via DocuSign
5
Complete and sign the distribution form electronically
Required Documents
- Certified death certificate
- Color copy of current government-issued photo ID (unexpired passport, driver's license, or state ID)
- Marriage certificate (if spouse beneficiary and name not on death certificate)
- Birth certificate (if child beneficiary)
- Birth certificate, certificate of guardianship, or adoption decree (if minor beneficiary)
- First page of fully executed trust document (if trust beneficiary)
- W-9 form (if charitable beneficiary)
Beneficiaries can disclaim inheritance within 9 months of account owner's death. Spouse beneficiaries have three distribution options: roll into own IRA, keep as beneficiary account, or roll into employer plan.
Expected timelines at Guideline: Varies; Distribution Election Form sent via DocuSign after document review is complete. Delays are almost always caused by incomplete paperwork—gathering all required documents before filing the initial claim helps avoid back-and-forth.
Documentation required by Guideline includes Certified death certificate, Color copy of current government-issued photo ID (unexpired passport, driver's license, or state ID), and Marriage certificate (if spouse beneficiary and name not on death certificate), along with additional paperwork that varies by account type. All death certificates and court documents must be certified copies.
Frequently asked questions
Do NOT log into the deceased's account. Mail a certified death certificate and color copy of your government ID to Guideline at 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010, then contact Participant Support at 888-344-5188 or support@guideline.com. After document review, Guideline sends a Distribution Election Form via DocuSign.
Yes. A beneficiary can file a written disclaimer within 9 months of the account owner's death (or 9 months from turning 21). The disclaimer must be in writing, submitted before taking any distributions, and the disclaiming beneficiary cannot direct where the assets go. Assets pass to the next beneficiary as if the disclaiming party predeceased the account owner. RMD amounts may be withdrawn before disclaiming the remaining balance.
Yes. Trusts, charities, minors, and estates can all be named as beneficiaries. For a trust designation, log in at my.guideline.com and navigate to your beneficiary settings. Select trust as the beneficiary type and enter the trust name, date established, and other required details. The trust must meet IRS see-through trust requirements: valid under state law, irrevocable upon the owner's death, identifiable beneficiaries, and a copy provided to the custodian by October 31 of the year following the owner's death.
Guideline's Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-888-344-5188 and email at support@guideline.com for questions throughout the claims process.
When the deceased had multiple Guideline retirement accounts, some may need separate claims while others can be handled together. The Death Claims can clarify what's needed for each account type.
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
IRA Support
Rollovers & Distributions
Plan Sponsors & Administrators
Onboarding Plans
Guideline Pro Partners
Sales & New Plan Inquiries
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims
Phone1-888-344-5188
Toll-Free1-888-344-5188
Mailing Address
Guideline, Inc., Attn: Customer Success, 1412 Chapin Avenue, Burlingame, CA 94010
Verified Apr 2026
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