Estate planning at Northern Trust
How to protect 13 Northern Trust accounts — manage beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and file death claims
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more→
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Settlement Services
Phone1-312-557-5900
Toll-Free1-888-635-5350
Fax1-312-557-0411
Mailing Address
The Northern Trust Company, 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, IL 60603
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Northern Trust has 13 accounts, each with different rules for what happens when the account holder dies. Of those, 11 can name a trust as beneficiary or be retitled into a trust. The right combination of beneficiary designations and trust ownership can keep the entire portfolio out of probate.
Beneficiary designations at Northern Trust can be managed in branch and by mail, typically taking 1-2 weeks for processing. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to retitle accounts into the name of a revocable living trust.
There are two sides to estate planning at Northern Trust: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to update beneficiaries in-branch, fund a trust in-branch, and review 13 account types at Northern Trust.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
4-step process, 8 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →Because Northern Trust serves a limited number of states, procedures for trust funding and beneficiary changes may differ depending on your location. Verify availability before starting.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. Northern Trust can serve as sole trustee, co-trustee, or successor trustee. They offer trust administration across 40+ specialty areas, including revocable and irrevocable trusts, with tax-efficient trust options domiciled in Delaware and Nevada.
Yes. Northern Trust provides comprehensive estate settlement including notification of heirs, regular communication with beneficiaries, asset distribution, tax return preparation, and ongoing reporting. Their team spans 40+ specialty areas including real estate, farmland, and private business interests.
Sources
Data sourced from Northern Trust primary sources (18 pages reviewed). How we research.
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more→
Brokerage Services / Client Services
Phone1-312-630-0779
Toll-Free1-866-876-9944
Mailing Address
Northern Trust, P.O. Box 75986, Chicago, IL 60675-5986
Wealth Management
Online Account Assistance
Northern Funds Center
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
WebsiteLearn more→
Estate Settlement Services
Phone1-312-557-5900
Toll-Free1-888-635-5350
Fax1-312-557-0411
Mailing Address
The Northern Trust Company, 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, IL 60603
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Northern Trust accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
