How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at National Western Life
Covers 13 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be updated by phone
Brand change
National Western Life was acquired by Prosperity Life Group (through S. USA Life Insurance Company) on July 9, 2024. The National Western brand still issues contracts and still runs its own claims intake; product information now lives on prosperitylife.com, and claims e-mail routes to claimsinfo@prosperitylife.com. Effective July 2024.
The procedures below reflect National Western Life's accounts. Account servicing may transfer as the change takes effect.
National Western Life
Subsidiary of Prosperity Life Group (S. USA Life Insurance Company, Inc.)
nationalwesternlife.com→
National Western Life Client Services
Regular mail: National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080. Street/overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415. Policyowner portal: https://www.mynwl.com (multi-factor authentication required).
National Western Life Client Services
Regular mail: National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080. Street/overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415. Policyowner portal: https://www.mynwl.com (multi-factor authentication required).
National Western Life Claims (Prosperity Life Group)
National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080 (overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415). Call 1-800-531-5442 and choose option 5 for claims.
Estate planning with National Western Life policies centers on beneficiary designations—the single most important step for ensuring life insurance proceeds and annuity benefits reach the intended recipients without probate involvement. Unlike bank or brokerage accounts, insurance products are not retitled into trusts; instead, trusts are named as beneficiaries when estate tax planning or controlled distributions are needed.
Across 13 product types, National Western Life policies vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through beneficiary designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Name the trust itself as beneficiary, never the trustee (SP-7161 General Provision F)
- A trust beneficiary requires either the pertinent trust pages (name, date, trustee signatures) or the Trust Information Form (DM-1094) in lieu of them
- Testamentary trust wording: "The Trust named in the last Will and Testament of the Insured"
- Forms containing corrections or erasures cannot be accepted; do not send the policy with the form
- Percentages must total 100% among primary beneficiaries and 100% among contingent beneficiaries
- A Common Disaster clause may be added, capped at 60 days
- If a trust is the owner, an authorized trustee signs and proof of trustee authorization may be required
- If the spouse's status as beneficiary is changed in any way, the spouse must sign; an irrevocable beneficiary must also sign
- Where a divorce is contemplated or pending, the owner may change the beneficiary only if he or she has full authority to do so
Sources
- nationalwesternlife.com
- eapp.nationalwesternlife.com
- nwl-edge-npqat.nationalwesternlife.com
- prosperitylife.com
- mynwl.com
- nwl-edge.nationalwesternlife.com
Data sourced from National Western Life primary sources (15 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these National Western Life instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against National Western Life primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
National Western Life
Subsidiary of Prosperity Life Group (S. USA Life Insurance Company, Inc.)
nationalwesternlife.com→National Western Life Client Services
Regular mail: National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080. Street/overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415. Policyowner portal: https://www.mynwl.com (multi-factor authentication required).
National Western Life Client Services
Regular mail: National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080. Street/overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415. Policyowner portal: https://www.mynwl.com (multi-factor authentication required).
National Western Life Claims (Prosperity Life Group)
National Western Life Insurance Company, PO Box 209080, Austin, TX 78720-9080 (overnight: 10801 N Mopac Expy, Bldg. 3, Austin, TX 78759-5415). Call 1-800-531-5442 and choose option 5 for claims.
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