How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Prudential
Covers 19 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Phone1-800-778-2255
Mailing Address
Prudential Customer Service Office, P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, PA 19176-7390
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-778-2255
Mailing Address
Prudential Customer Service Office, P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, PA 19176-7390
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Services / Claims Center
Phone1-800-524-0542
Toll-Free1-855-277-8061
Fax(800) 307-0009
Mailing Address
The Prudential Insurance Company of America, PO Box 70182, Philadelphia, PA 19176
Claim Status Inquiries
Annuities Service Center
Group Life Claims (after contacting employer)
International
Verified May 2026
Beneficiary designations are the foundation of estate planning for Prudential policies. Unlike bank accounts, insurance products cannot be retitled into a trust. Instead, the beneficiary designation itself determines who receives the proceeds and how quickly they're paid. Naming a trust as beneficiary is an option when more control over distributions is needed.
Across 19 product types, Prudential policies vary in how they transfer at death. The sections below walk through beneficiary designations, trust funding options, and which products support each method.
Prudential EssentialTerm ValuePrudential EssentialTerm PlusTerm EssentialSimplyTermPruTerm OnePruLife Essential ULPruLife Founders Plus Indexed ULMomentum Indexed Universal LifePruLife Survivorship Index ULVUL ProtectorPruLife Custom Premier IIPruLife SVUL ProtectorFlexGuard Life Indexed Variable Universal LifeFlexGuard Indexed Variable AnnuityFlexGuard Income Indexed Variable AnnuityFlexGuard 2.0 Registered Index-Linked AnnuityPrudential Premier Investment Variable AnnuityGroup Life InsuranceGroup Disability Insurance
1
Log in to your Prudential online account at prudential.com:
- Click "Change Beneficiaries" in the Quick Actions section of your account dashboard
- Or navigate to your Policy Profile page and select "Change Beneficiary(ies)"
2
Designate primary beneficiaries:
- Provide full legal names, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and relationships
- Assign percentage allocations for each primary beneficiary (must total 100%)
3
Add contingent beneficiaries if desired with their own percentage allocations
4
For trusts: select trust as beneficiary type and provide the full legal trust name, date established, and EIN
5
Choose per capita or per stirpes distribution
6
Review and confirm the beneficiary designation
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Trusts can be named as beneficiaries on life insurance and annuity products
- A testamentary trust (created under a will) can be named as beneficiary
- Primary and contingent beneficiaries allowed with percentage allocations
- Per capita and per stirpes distribution options available
- A disinterested adult witness signature is required on paper beneficiary change forms
- Only the policyholder can change beneficiaries (with rare exceptions for irrevocable designations)
- Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
Phone1-800-778-2255
Mailing Address
Prudential Customer Service Office, P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, PA 19176-7390
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-778-2255
Mailing Address
Prudential Customer Service Office, P.O. Box 7390, Philadelphia, PA 19176-7390
WebsiteLearn more→
Beneficiary Services / Claims Center
Phone1-800-524-0542
Toll-Free1-855-277-8061
Fax(800) 307-0009
Mailing Address
The Prudential Insurance Company of America, PO Box 70182, Philadelphia, PA 19176
Claim Status Inquiries
Annuities Service Center
Group Life Claims (after contacting employer)
International
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Prudential accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
