Estate planning at MassMutual
How to protect 17 MassMutual accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through MassMutual's Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Toll-Free1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Fax(513) 412-5122
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jun 2026
MassMutual is a insurance company with 17 products relevant to estate planning. Life insurance and annuity proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate, making beneficiary designations one of the most important estate planning steps for MassMutual policyholders.
Managing beneficiaries at MassMutual is straightforward—changes can be made online, in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 10-15 minutes online; 15-20 minutes by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the policy beneficiary or establish an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).
MassMutual has documented procedures for both preparing accounts during your lifetime and handling claims when an account holder passes away.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and review 17 account types at MassMutual.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact MassMutual's Claims Department to file a claim. 6-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact MassMutual's Claims Department at 1-800-272-2216.
Frequently asked questions
Log in to your MassMutual account at massmutual.com, select your policy, and navigate to "People on Policy" to update beneficiaries online. You can also download the Beneficiary Change Request form (FR2265-US) from massmutual.com/forms and return all pages to MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001, by fax to 1-866-329-4527, or by email to lifefax@MassMutual.com. Alternatively, contact your financial professional or call 1-800-272-2216 for assistance. You can designate primary, secondary, and tertiary beneficiaries with percentage allocations. Signed forms must be received within 6 months of the signature date.
Technically yes -- MassMutual permits trust ownership of nonqualified annuities using the Entity Owner & Beneficiary Change Request form along with the Certification of Trust (F6734). However, under IRC Section 72(u), a nonqualified deferred annuity owned by a non-natural person such as a trust is generally not treated as an annuity contract for tax purposes, which can cause loss of tax deferral on inside buildup. A limited exception applies when the trust holds the annuity as an agent for a natural person beneficiary. Most planners name the trust as beneficiary instead of owner to preserve tax deferral. Consult a tax professional before retitling an annuity to a trust.
Sources
Data sourced from MassMutual primary sources (19 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-272-2216
Toll-Free1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, 1295 State Street, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
Online Account Support
MassMutual Ascend Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims Department
Phone1-800-272-2216
Fax(513) 412-5122
Mailing Address
MassMutual, Attention: Life Hub, Springfield, MA 01111-0001
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jun 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your MassMutual accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
