How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at ManhattanLife
Beneficiaries are managed online, by phone or by mail. Trust paperwork is taken online, by phone or by mail
Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for ManhattanLife policies. Unlike bank accounts, insurance products cannot be retitled into a trust. Instead, the beneficiary designation itself determines who receives the proceeds and how quickly they're paid. Naming a trust as beneficiary is an option when more control over distributions is needed.
Each of ManhattanLife's 9 policies has different rules for how it transfers at death. The sections below explain the options for each.
Beneficiary form at ManhattanLife
Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form (BENE-CH-08/11).
Open the form →- Check the box for the issuing company: ManhattanLife Insurance and Annuity Company, Manhattan Life, Family Life, Western United Life, or American General Life Insurance (Administered by ManhattanLife)
- Enter the policy number and the name of the insured
- List principal and contingent beneficiaries with name, percent, irrevocable yes/no, date of birth, relationship, address, and Social Security Number
- Your policy or contract number and personal identification
- A request for the Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form for that policy
- Policy number and the name of the insured
- Principal beneficiaries with full legal names, percent, date of birth, relationship, address, and Social Security Number
- Contingent beneficiaries if desired; the instructions state naming them is not required, and that any payment to a second contingent beneficiary is made in one sum rather than left with the company
- For a trust: enter "trustee" as the relationship, then check whether the trust is created by the insured's will or is an existing inter vivos trust, and attach a copy
- To make a beneficiary irrevocable, check the "Irrevocable: Yes" box next to that beneficiary
- For unnamed children, the instructions ask for wording such as "my lawful children" or "children born of my marriage to (name of spouse)"
Required Documents
- Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form, completed. One form per policy. Do not submit the policy with the form unless requested
- Policy number and the name of the insured
- Each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, relationship and address
- Each beneficiary's Social Security Number
- Each beneficiary's share as a percent
- A copy of the trust (for a trust beneficiary). The relationship is marked "trustee," with a check for whether the trust is created by the insured's will or is an existing inter vivos trust
- Community Property Release, signed by the spouse or former spouse and a witness (if the owner lives in a community property state)
- Supporting documentation such as a divorce decree or death certificate (to claim the policy is not subject to community property law). The reason is stated on the form
- A copy of the divorce decree (if the change is due to divorce)
- A copy of the death certificate (if the change is due to a beneficiary's death)
- The Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form to name the trust as beneficiary
- The Life Policy Ownership Change Form to transfer the policy itself into an irrevocable life insurance trust
- It certifies the trust name, federal tax ID, execution date, effective date, grantors and original trustees
- It states whether all, a majority, or any trustee may sign documents affecting the policy
- All trustees must sign the certification
- Naming a trust as beneficiary: request the Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form
- Transferring a life policy into an insurance trust: request the Life Policy Ownership Change Form and the Life Certificate Of Trust Agreement
- A trust-owned annuity or a trustee change: request the Trust Information / Trustee Certification Indemnification Agreement
- Set the relationship to "trustee," check whether the trust is testamentary or an existing inter vivos trust, and attach a copy
- Mail to Policyholder Services, P.O. Box 925989, Houston, TX 77292
- Select option 6 of the six ownership options, "To the formal trust agreement named below"
- Enter the name of the trust, the name(s) of the trustee(s), and the date of the trust
- Complete the Community Property Release on page 2 if the current owner is in a community property state
- The new owner section must be completed by the trust with its tax identification number and a Substitute W-9 certification signed by a trustee
- Attach the Life Certificate Of Trust Agreement
- Certify whether the trust acts as agent for a natural person
- Mail to ManhattanLife Annuity Operations, PO Box 2290, Spokane, WA 99210-2217, or fax to 509-835-3190
Required Documents
- Life Policy Ownership Change Form, option 6 (to transfer a life policy into an insurance trust). Option 6 of the six ownership options, "To the formal trust agreement named below," with the name of the trust, the trustees and the date of the trust
- Life Certificate Of Trust Agreement, signed by all trustees (for a life policy). ManhattanLife's own certification form for life policies. It certifies the trust name, federal tax ID, execution date, effective date, grantors and original trustees
- Trustee Certification Indemnification Agreement, signed by all trustees (for a trust-owned annuity contract or a trustee change)
- Full legal trust name, execution and effective dates, and the trust's federal tax ID
- Names of all grantors, original trustees and any successor trustees
- Substitute W-9 certification for the trust as new owner, signed by a trustee (for an ownership change)
- Trust EIN documentation
- Community Property Release on page 2 of the ownership form (if the current owner is in a community property state)
What ManhattanLife says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is ManhattanLife's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary1
- Life insurance policy
Not every policy allows beneficiaries to be designated. The form opens by telling the owner to read the policy first to see whether it has a beneficiary designation clause.1
Who can be named3
- A trust
A trust can be named. The relationship is marked "trustee," the form indicates whether the trust is created by the insured's will or is an existing inter vivos trust, and a copy is provided.1
- A trust created by a will
A trust created by the insured's will can be named. If no will naming the trustee is admitted to probate within 90 days of the insured's death, or the named trustee does not qualify within one year of death, the proceeds are paid to the second beneficiary if living, otherwise to the insured's estate.1
- A person
Children not named individually can be designated with wording such as "my lawful children" or "children born of my marriage to (name of spouse)."1
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- All accounts
Principal and contingent beneficiaries are listed with a percent for each. Naming contingent beneficiaries is not required, and any payment to a second contingent beneficiary is made in one sum rather than left with the company.1
What a designation takes to be effective
- All accounts
Only the legal owner of the policy may change a beneficiary designation. The owner signs and dates the form.1
In a community property state the spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs alongside them; status is judged by the owner's current or former resident state. To claim the policy is not subject to community property law, state the reason and attach supporting documents.1
Beneficiary forms ManhattanLife issues1
- Life and Health Beneficiary Change Form (BENE-CH-08/11)
Completed by the policy owner. Available to download.1
Return to
Mailing address: Policyholder Services, P.O. Box 925989, Houston, TX 77292
What ManhattanLife's agreement says about beneficiaries4
- Changing or revoking a designation
The new designation cancels all prior beneficiary and settlement designations under the policy.1
Checking the "Irrevocable" box means that beneficiary's witnessed signature is required for every future beneficiary change, including removing them. If a current beneficiary is already irrevocable, their signature is required before anything can change.1
- When a designation takes effect
The change takes effect on the date stated in the policy on Home Office approval, or on the approval date when the policy states none, not the date you sign. Once approved it is valid whether or not the insured is living at the time of approval.1
- A minor as beneficiary
Payments to a minor beneficiary are made to the legally appointed guardian of the minor's estate unless otherwise permitted by law.1
- Claims against the account
Payment of proceeds is subject to the interest of any assignee whose assignment is in force and on file at the Home Office.1
State requirements ManhattanLife statesArizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin
- Arizona
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- California
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Idaho
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Louisiana
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Nevada
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- New Mexico
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Texas
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Washington
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
- Wisconsin
The form lists this as a community property state: the owner's spouse or former spouse signs the Community Property Release and a witness signs as well.1
Which accounts a trust can hold3
- Life insurance policy
A life policy can be transferred into an irrevocable life insurance trust on the Life Policy Ownership Change Form.2
Worksite life certificates have no assignable ownership interest or no cash value and are not placed in a trust.2
- Annuity
A trust that owns an annuity contract, changes trustees or requests a contract change files the Trust Information / Trustee Certification Indemnification Agreement with Annuity Operations, certifying whether the trust acts as agent for a natural person.3
- Health, long-term care or disability policy
Medicare supplement, accident and dental, vision and hearing policies have no assignable ownership interest or no cash value and are not placed in a trust.2
Trust account forms ManhattanLife issues3
- Life Policy Ownership Change Form (OWNCH 0509 Rev. 6/12)
For life insurance policys. Completed by the current owner, with the new owner section completed by the trust. Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: Policyholder Services, P.O. Box 925989, Houston, TX 77292
- Life Certificate Of Trust Agreement (CERTTRUSTAGREE-0509)
For life insurance policys. Completed by all trustees. Available to download.4
Return to
Mailing address: Claims Department, P.O. Box 925309, Houston, TX 77292-5309
- Trust Information / Trustee Certification Indemnification Agreement
For annuitys. Completed by all trustees. Available to download.3
Return to
Fax: 1-509-835-3190
Mailing address: ManhattanLife Annuity Operations, PO Box 2290, Spokane, WA 99210-2217
What ManhattanLife says about trust accounts4
- A trust as owner of a policy
Making the trust the owner is done on the Life Policy Ownership Change Form using option 6, which asks for the trust name, trustee names and trust date, and requires the trust's tax ID and a Substitute W-9 from the new owner.2
- Review of the trust document
The ownership form states the company is not obligated to inquire into the terms of any trust agreement and may rely solely on the signatures of the named trustees.2
- Who signs for the trust
Unless a certification of trust says otherwise, the signatures of all named trustees or their successors are required to exercise any contractual right.2
The Life Certificate Of Trust Agreement is where the trustees state whether all, a majority, or any trustee may sign documents affecting the policy. All trustees must sign the certification itself.4
- The trust's tax identification number
The new owner section is completed by the trust with its tax identification number and a Substitute W-9 certification signed by a trustee.2
State requirements ManhattanLife statesArizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin
- Arizona
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- California
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Idaho
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Louisiana
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Nevada
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- New Mexico
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Texas
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Washington
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
- Wisconsin
The ownership form lists this as a community property state: the current owner completes the Community Property Release on page 2.2
Accounts handled elsewhere2
- ManhattanLife Annuity Operations
Manhattan Life annuity contracts beginning with "ML" and all Western United Life annuity contracts5, 3
Phone: 1-800-247-2045
Fax: 1-509-835-3190
Mailing address: ManhattanLife Annuity Operations, PO Box 2290, Spokane, WA 99210-2217
- Standard Life
Secure Advantage final expense policies5
Phone: 1-800-327-0695
Not in ManhattanLife's published guidance1
- An online beneficiary editor
Sources
Data sourced from ManhattanLife primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these ManhattanLife instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against ManhattanLife primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
ManhattanLife estate support
Policyholder Services (beneficiary changes, ownership changes, policy service)
Phone
Toll-free
Mailing address
Website
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