How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Midland National
Covers 7 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Life Insurance Customer Service
Midland National - Life Insurance, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193
Life Insurance Customer Service
Midland National - Life Insurance, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193
Life Claims
Midland National Life Insurance Company, Life Division, P.O. Box 5973, Sioux Falls, SD 57117 (overnight: Life Division, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193)
Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for Midland National 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.
The transfer rules at Midland National vary across 7 policies. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
- Select your policy or contract
- Choose "Update personal or beneficiary information"
- Follow the on-screen prompts to add, change, or remove beneficiaries
- Provide full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and percentage allocation for each beneficiary
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Only the policy or contract owner can change a beneficiary designation
- A beneficiary designation controls the death benefit; it is not overridden by a will
- Percentage allocations must total 100% within each tier, and fractions are not accepted on Midland National's forms
- Trusts, individuals, estates, and charitable organizations may all be named. A trust beneficiary requires the Certification of trust agreement (form 7519 life / 19306Y annuity; 26742Y for a charitable trust on an annuity)
- LIFE POLICIES: if the death benefit payable to a trust will be $250,000 or more, the trustee will also have to file a notarized Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax Release (form 12973) at claim time
- ANNUITIES: if no per stirpes / per capita election is made, Midland National defaults to PER CAPITA — a predeceased beneficiary's children take nothing
- A per stirpes election on an annuity requires a signed, dated list of the children with names, addresses, phone numbers, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers
- Spousal consent is recommended in the community property states (AK, AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI) on an ownership change
- A designation naming "surviving children" will require a notarized Affidavit of surviving children (form 6506 life / 11734Y annuity) at claim time
Sources
Data sourced from Midland National primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Midland National instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Midland National primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Life Insurance Customer Service
Midland National - Life Insurance, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193
Life Insurance Customer Service
Midland National - Life Insurance, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193
Life Claims
Midland National Life Insurance Company, Life Division, P.O. Box 5973, Sioux Falls, SD 57117 (overnight: Life Division, One Sammons Plaza, Sioux Falls, SD 57193)
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Midland National accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
Is this your situation?
Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption
Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.
Learn more
Marriage
What married couples need in place: one joint trust or two, wills, beneficiary updates, and the spousal rights your state grants you automatically.
Learn more
New Home
How to put your house in a revocable trust: the deed you record, what it does to your mortgage and property taxes, and when a TOD deed is simpler.
Learn more
Retirement
Retirement changes your financial picture. Healthcare directives, beneficiary reviews, long-term care planning, and protecting what you've built.
Learn moreMore estate planning resources
Explore related tools and documents to complete your estate plan.
How Much Does Probate Cost?
Estimate attorney fees, executor fees, court costs, and timeline for probating an estate in your state. See if the estate qualifies for simplified probate procedures.
Who Inherits Without a Will?
Find out who inherits your estate and how much they get if you die without a will. Based on your state's intestate succession laws.
How Much Are Estate & Inheritance Taxes?
Calculate federal estate tax, state estate tax (12 states + DC), and inheritance tax (5 states) for an estate or trust.
What Does Estate Planning Actually Cost?
See the true cost of estate planning. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys including life events like marriage, divorce, and having children.
How Much Does a Revocable Living Trust Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a revocable living trust. See how SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys compare over 5 years including life events.
How Much Does a Will Cost?
Compare the cost of creating a will. See document costs plus probate fees your heirs will pay. Compare SimplyTrust, Trust & Will, LegalZoom, and attorneys.






