Skip to main content
SimplyTrust
SimplyTrust
Create a TrustNewForms & ToolsFreeResourcesStates
LoginGet started
Company
AboutCareersContactFormsCreate a TrustNew
Privacy PolicyTerms of ServiceSecurityAI Access

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc.

SimplyTrust Logo

Every family deserves a plan. We'll help.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Forms

  • Revocable Trust
  • Last Will
  • Pour-Over Will
  • Healthcare Proxy
  • Financial POA
  • Transfer on Death Deed

Tools

  • Trust vs Will
  • Probate Calculator
  • Who Inherits
  • Estate Settlement
  • Death Tax Calculator
  • Life Insurance

Learn

  • Revocable Living Trusts
  • Last Will and Testaments
  • Articles
  • State Guides
  • Estate Law
  • Life Events

Directories

  • Law Firms
  • Financial Assets
  • Digital Assets
  • Government Agencies

Company

  • About
  • Careers
  • Contact
  • Create a Trust

SimplyTrust is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice, legal counsel, or attorney review. Information on this platform is for general informational purposes only. Use of SimplyTrust does not create an attorney-client relationship. You are solely responsible for all documents you create. For advice tailored to your circumstances, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

© 2026 SimplyTrust Software Inc. All rights reserved.

Privacy Policy·Terms of Service·Security··AI Access

All content, data, and calculations are proprietary. Automated scraping, systematic downloading, or data extraction is prohibited under our Terms of Service. Product visuals are simulated for illustrative purposes and may differ from actual experience. Logos provided by Logo.dev.

A will is a wish. A trust is a plan.

Create and manage your trust online.

How it works

No probate. No public record. No court.

Estate Ledger

Every decision signed, timestamped, and hashed

Pricing

Simple, transparent pricing

Download

Get the app on iOS and Android

Home→Financial Institutions→Northern Trust→Preparing your estate

How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Northern Trust

Covers 5 deposit, 3 investment, 3 retirement, and 2 lending accounts — beneficiaries must be updated in-branch

OverviewPreparing your estateWhen someone dies

Northern Trust

Subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation

northerntrust.com→
Northern Trust logo

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
1-888-635-5350
Online Account Assistance
1-877-615-8688
Northern Funds Center
1-800-595-9111
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
1-800-388-5316
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
1-888-635-5350
Online Account Assistance
1-877-615-8688
Northern Funds Center
1-800-595-9111
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
1-800-388-5316
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

There are two ways to keep your Northern Trust accounts out of probate: adding beneficiary designations and retitling eligible accounts into a revocable living trust. Which approach works best depends on the account type and your overall estate plan.

With 13 product types, Northern Trust offers a range of transfer options. Some accounts support Payable on Death (POD) designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.

Northern Anchor Interest CheckingPersonal CheckingSavings AccountMoney Market Deposit AccountCertificate of Deposit
1
Visit a Northern Trust office with valid government-issued photo ID
2
Complete the beneficiary designation form:
  • Request the Transfer on Death Registration Form (investment accounts) or POD beneficiary form (deposit accounts)
  • Provide beneficiary details: full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, relationship, and allocation percentage
3
Obtain required signatures:
  • All registered account owners must sign the form
  • Obtain a Medallion Signature Guarantee from your Northern Trust advisor for existing accounts
4
Retain a copy of the signed form for your records

Required Documents

  • Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)

Special Requirements

  • All registered account owners must sign the form
  • Medallion Signature Guarantee required for all signatures on existing accounts
  • TOD can be changed or revoked at any time during account holder lifetime
  • Named beneficiaries override your will

Northern Trust

Subsidiary of Northern Trust Corporation

northerntrust.com→
Northern Trust logo

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
1-888-635-5350
Online Account Assistance
1-877-615-8688
Northern Funds Center
1-800-595-9111
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
1-800-388-5316
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
1-888-635-5350
Online Account Assistance
1-877-615-8688
Northern Funds Center
1-800-595-9111
Loss Mitigation / Payment Difficulty
1-800-388-5316
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.

When you're ready, we're here.

A revocable living trust skips probate, stays private, and takes 15 minutes.

Get startedApp StoreGoogle Play

Estate planning articles

Learn how to protect your Northern Trust accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.

Social Security Administration Notification After Death in Hawaii

Social Security Administration Notification After Death in Hawaii

Learn how Social Security Administration notification after someone passes works.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Gathering Recent Tax Returns After Someone Passes Away

Gathering Recent Tax Returns After Someone Passes Away

Learn about gathering recent tax returns after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Collecting Business Documents After Someone Passes Away

Collecting Business Documents After Someone Passes Away

Essential guide to collecting business documents after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Collecting Real Estate Documents After Someone Passes Away

Collecting Real Estate Documents After Someone Passes Away

Essential steps for gathering property deeds, tax records, and ownership documents after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 24, 2026
Gathering Financial Account Statements After Someone Passes Away

Gathering Financial Account Statements After Someone Passes Away

Learn how to gather financial account statements after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026
Collecting and Forwarding Mail After Someone Passes Away

Collecting and Forwarding Mail After Someone Passes Away

Learn who can legally collect mail after someone passes away.
Estate Settlement
SimplyTrustSimplyTrust EditorialApril 23, 2026

Is this your situation?

Get a complete guide for your specific circumstances.

New Baby or Adoption

New Baby or Adoption

Your family is growing. Your protection should too. Guardian nominations, trusts for minors, beneficiary updates, and the documents new parents need in place.

Learn more
Marriage

Marriage

Starting a life together means planning for it. Beneficiary updates, asset titling, powers of attorney, and what blended families need to know.

Learn more