Estate planning at Merrill
How to protect 14 Merrill accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Merrill's Merrill Life Services
Merrill Edge Client Services
Phone1-888-637-3343
Fax(877) 229-7160
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Forms Questions (24/7)
Spanish Language Support
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Client Services (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm ET)
Merrill Advisory Center New Account Support (Mon-Fri 8am-9:30pm ET)
Benefits & Retirement Accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm ET)
401(k) Customer Service (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Merrill Life Services
Phone1-855-450-9015
Toll-Free1-855-450-9015
Fax(917) 778-0797
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Merrill accounts, per Bank of America Estate Services (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
Bank of America Estate Servicing, for the decedent's bank accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm ET)
Forms Questions (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
Merrill Life Services (Transition Specialist team)
Phone1-855-450-9015
Fax(917) 778-0797
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Merrill accounts, per Bank of America Estate Services (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
Bank of America Estate Servicing — separate claim for bank accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm ET)
Merrill Advisory Center, to open a receiving account (Mon-Fri 8am-9:30pm ET)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Merrill offers 14 consumer investment accounts that interact with estate planning in distinct ways. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. Understanding the transfer methods available for each account type helps families keep assets out of probate and ensure they pass to the right people.
Merrill lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 15-30 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle brokerage accounts into a trust.
Merrill provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and review 14 account types at Merrill.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Merrill's Merrill Life Services to file a claim. 5-step process, 10 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Reach Merrill's Merrill Life Services at 1-855-450-9015 for help with any of these procedures.
Sources
Data sourced from Merrill primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Merrill Edge Client Services
Phone1-888-637-3343
Fax(877) 229-7160
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Forms Questions (24/7)
Spanish Language Support
Merrill Lynch Wealth Management Client Services (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm ET)
Merrill Advisory Center New Account Support (Mon-Fri 8am-9:30pm ET)
Benefits & Retirement Accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-9pm ET)
401(k) Customer Service (Mon-Fri 8am-7pm ET)
WebsiteLearn more→
Merrill Life Services
Phone1-855-450-9015
Toll-Free1-855-450-9015
Fax(917) 778-0797
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Merrill accounts, per Bank of America Estate Services (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
Bank of America Estate Servicing, for the decedent's bank accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm ET)
Forms Questions (24/7)
WebsiteLearn more→
Merrill Life Services (Transition Specialist team)
Phone1-855-450-9015
Fax(917) 778-0797
Mailing Address
Merrill Document Processing, PO Box 31024, Tampa, FL 33631-3024
Merrill accounts, per Bank of America Estate Services (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm ET)
Bank of America Estate Servicing — separate claim for bank accounts (Mon-Fri 9am-8pm ET)
Merrill Advisory Center, to open a receiving account (Mon-Fri 8am-9:30pm ET)
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Merrill accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
