How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Modern Woodmen
Covers 11 insurance, 2 retirement, and 2 investment accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Service Center
Phone(309) 558-3077
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5547
Mailing Address
Modern Woodmen of America, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005 (street: 1701 1st Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201)
Stock, Bond, and Mutual Fund Trades (MWA Financial Services)
Variable Product Questions
WebsiteLearn more→
Members' Service Department (beneficiary changes, assignments)
Phone(309) 558-3077
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5547
Mailing Address
Beneficiary changes (Form 948): Modern Woodmen of America, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005. Absolute assignments (Form 953): Modern Woodmen of America, Members' Service Department, 1701 1st Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
WebsiteLearn more→
Claim Department
Phone(309) 558-3088
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5514
Mailing Address
Modern Woodmen of America, Attention: Claim Department, 1701 1st Avenue, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005
General Service Center
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
For Modern Woodmen policyholders, estate planning comes down to one critical step: making sure the right beneficiaries are named on every policy. Insurance proceeds bypass probate entirely and go directly to whoever is listed—regardless of what a will says. When estate tax planning or controlled distributions are a factor, a trust can be named as beneficiary instead.
Across 15 product types, Modern Woodmen policies vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through beneficiary designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
529 College Savings PlanMutual Fund and Brokerage Accounts
1
Log in to the member website at member.modern-woodmen.org (or the Modern Woodmen mobile app). Accounts created before March 25, 2021 must be re-registered on the current portal
2
Open the certificate and choose the option to access or change beneficiary information
3
Enter the designation. Modern Woodmen recognizes five beneficiary types on its Form 948:
- Named individuals — full name, address, relationship, date of birth, and Social Security number for each
- A class (for example "lawful children") — everyone in the class who survives the insured shares; living class members are listed to help locate them
- A living (inter vivos) trust — the trust must already be in effect
- A trust under the insured's will (testamentary trust)
- The estate of the insured — if the estate is chosen, no other names may be listed
4
Confirm the change. Confirmation is mailed to the certificate owner once headquarters has processed it — the designation is not effective until it is received and acknowledged in writing by the home office
Special Requirements
- The designation is not effective until the properly completed form is received AND acknowledged in writing at the home office — a mailed or faxed form is not effective on the day you send it
- A separate Form 948 is required for each certificate
- The form revokes all prior beneficiary designations on that certificate; a beneficiary who is meant to remain must be re-listed
- A trust named as beneficiary must already be in effect, and a FINAL BENEFICIARY must be named to take the proceeds if the trust is not properly qualified or does not claim within 120 days of the date of death
- Modern Woodmen asks for the trust name, date executed, grantor, and trustee(s) — not a trust EIN
- Class designations (for example "lawful children") are supported: everyone in the class who survives the insured shares
- Proceeds payable to a MINOR beneficiary are held by the Society until the minor reaches legal age, unless a court-appointed guardian of the minor's estate requests payment sooner
- Signatures must be original and must be witnessed by an adult who is not a named beneficiary
- The certificate owner cannot specify how a beneficiary uses the proceeds
- The "Deposit at Interest" settlement option cannot be elected on a tax-qualified certificate such as an IRA
- Changing a beneficiary does not change ownership of the certificate; ownership moves only on Form 953 (Absolute Assignment)
Sources
Data sourced from Modern Woodmen primary sources (16 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Modern Woodmen instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Modern Woodmen primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
Service Center
Phone(309) 558-3077
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5547
Mailing Address
Modern Woodmen of America, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005 (street: 1701 1st Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201)
Stock, Bond, and Mutual Fund Trades (MWA Financial Services)
Variable Product Questions
WebsiteLearn more→
Members' Service Department (beneficiary changes, assignments)
Phone(309) 558-3077
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5547
Mailing Address
Beneficiary changes (Form 948): Modern Woodmen of America, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005. Absolute assignments (Form 953): Modern Woodmen of America, Members' Service Department, 1701 1st Avenue, Rock Island, IL 61201
WebsiteLearn more→
Claim Department
Phone(309) 558-3088
Toll-Free1-800-447-9811
Fax(309) 793-5514
Mailing Address
Modern Woodmen of America, Attention: Claim Department, 1701 1st Avenue, P.O. Box 2005, Rock Island, IL 61204-2005
General Service Center
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Jul 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Modern Woodmen accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
