What to do when a MissionSquare account holder dies
Contact MissionSquare — 7-step process, 7 required documents, and 5-7 business days after receipt of complete documentation
Participant Services
Phone1-800-669-7400
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Retirement, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20002
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services
Phone1-800-669-7400
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Retirement, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20002
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services - Death Claims
Phone1-800-669-7400
Toll-Free1-800-669-7400
Fax1-844-677-3297
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Plan Services, P.O. Box 219320, Kansas City, MO 64121-9320
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
When a MissionSquare account holder passes away, the next step depends on how the retirement accounts were set up. Accounts with beneficiary designations or trust ownership transfer outside of probate. Accounts titled solely in the deceased's name require the estate's legal representative to work with MissionSquare's Participant Services - Death Claims (1-800-669-7400) to access and distribute the funds.
MissionSquare offers an online claims portal that makes the initial filing process more straightforward. Survivors can also initiate claims by phone or by mailing documentation directly.
Death claim process
Here is the step-by-step death claim process at MissionSquare:
Filing a claim
1
Contact MissionSquare at 800-669-7400 to notify them of the participant's death
2
Request the Beneficiary Claim Request Form
3
Gather required documentation:
- Certified copy or original death certificate
- Government-issued photo ID for claiming beneficiary
- Complete copy of trust agreement (if trust is beneficiary)
4
Plan sponsor must sign required sections of the claim form (unless participant was already receiving distributions)
5
Beneficiary completes claim forms with distribution election
6
Submit completed forms:
- Fax to 844-677-3297
- Mail to MissionSquare Plan Services, P.O. Box 219320, Kansas City, MO 64121-9320
7
MissionSquare processes claim within 5-7 business days of receiving complete package
Required Documents
- Certified copy or original death certificate
- Certified death certificates for any deceased primary or contingent beneficiaries
- Government-issued photo ID for claiming beneficiary
- Birth certificate or guardianship documentation (if minor beneficiary)
- Complete copy of trust agreement (if trust is beneficiary)
- Plan sponsor signature on claim forms (unless distributions had begun)
- Letters Testamentary or Letters of Administration (if estate is beneficiary)
Beneficiaries can open a MissionSquare account to access complimentary one-on-one consultations with a Certified Financial Planner professional. Non-spouse beneficiaries may roll over inherited plan assets to an inherited IRA. Spouse beneficiaries have additional options including rolling assets into their own IRA or retirement plan.
Processing timelines at MissionSquare: 5-7 business days after receipt of complete documentation. Incomplete documentation is the most common cause of delays—submitting all required documents with the initial claim helps avoid additional processing time.
MissionSquare requires several documents to process a claim, including Certified copy or original death certificate, Certified death certificates for any deceased primary or contingent beneficiaries, and Government-issued photo ID for claiming beneficiary, and additional documentation depending on the account type. Certified copies are typically needed—photocopies are generally not accepted for death certificates or court documents.
Frequently asked questions
Distribution options depend on the beneficiary's relationship to the deceased and the date of death. Spouse beneficiaries may maintain the plan, roll assets into their own IRA or retirement plan, or take a lump sum. Non-spouse beneficiaries may transfer assets to an inherited IRA or take a lump sum. Under the SECURE Act, most non-spouse designated beneficiaries must withdraw the entire balance within 10 years. Eligible designated beneficiaries (spouse, minor child, disabled, or chronically ill individuals) may use life expectancy calculations.
No. Retirement accounts such as 457(b), 403(b), 401(k), 401(a), and IRAs cannot be retitled to a trust during the account owner's lifetime. The appropriate approach is to name your trust as the beneficiary of these accounts. This allows the trust to receive the account assets upon your death while maintaining the tax-advantaged status during your lifetime.
MissionSquare's Participant Services - Death Claims can be reached by phone at 1-800-669-7400 and fax at 1-844-677-3297 for questions throughout the claims process.
If the deceased held multiple MissionSquare retirement accounts, each may require a separate claim or have different documentation requirements. The Participant Services - Death Claims can confirm which accounts require individual attention and which can be processed together.
Participant Services
Phone1-800-669-7400
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Retirement, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20002
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services
Phone1-800-669-7400
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Retirement, 777 North Capitol Street NE, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20002
Telecommunications Relay Service (TRS)
WebsiteLearn more→
Participant Services - Death Claims
Phone1-800-669-7400
Toll-Free1-800-669-7400
Fax1-844-677-3297
Mailing Address
MissionSquare Plan Services, P.O. Box 219320, Kansas City, MO 64121-9320
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
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