Estate planning at New York Life
How to protect 17 New York Life accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Phone1-800-225-5695
Mailing Address
New York Life, P.O. Box 6916, Cleveland, OH 44101
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-225-5695
Mailing Address
New York Life, P.O. Box 6916, Cleveland, OH 44101
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims & Benefits
Phone1-800-225-5695
Fax1-800-278-4117
Mailing Address
New York Life, Claims & Benefits, PO Box 130539, Dallas, TX 75313-0539
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
New York Life offers 17 insurance products that play a central role in estate planning. Because policy proceeds pass directly to named beneficiaries—bypassing probate entirely—keeping designations current is one of the highest-impact steps policyholders can take.
New York Life lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 10-15 minutes online; 15-20 minutes by mail. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the policy beneficiary or establish an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).
There are two sides to estate planning at New York Life: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and review 17 account types at New York Life.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
8-step process, 6 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Frequently asked questions
Log in to your MyNYL account at mynyl.newyorklife.com to manage beneficiaries online. You can also download the Change of Beneficiary form (Form 21131) from newyorklife.com and submit it by mail to New York Life, PO Box 6916, Cleveland, OH 44101 or by fax to (800) 278-4117. Alternatively, call 1-800-225-5695 or contact your local New York Life agent. You can name primary, secondary, and tertiary beneficiaries with percentage allocations that must total 100% for each class. All policyowners must sign the form.
Fixed Deferred Annuities, the Complete Access Variable Annuity II, the IndexFlex Variable Annuity, and the IndexFlex Fixed Annuity (FP Series) all support trust ownership. These are issued by New York Life Insurance and Annuity Corporation (NYLIAC). To set up trust ownership, use the NYLIAC Statement of Trust form along with the appropriate Ownership/Beneficiary Change form. The Lifetime Mutual Income Annuity (immediate) and Future Mutual Income Annuity (deferred) do not support ownership transfer once annuitized, but a trust can be named as beneficiary.
Sources
Data sourced from New York Life primary sources (34 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-800-225-5695
Mailing Address
New York Life, P.O. Box 6916, Cleveland, OH 44101
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-225-5695
Mailing Address
New York Life, P.O. Box 6916, Cleveland, OH 44101
WebsiteLearn more→
Claims & Benefits
Phone1-800-225-5695
Fax1-800-278-4117
Mailing Address
New York Life, Claims & Benefits, PO Box 130539, Dallas, TX 75313-0539
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your New York Life accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
