How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at SBLI
Covers 4 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
SBLI Customer Service
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
SBLI Customer Service
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
SBLI Claims
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
Estate planning with SBLI 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.
The transfer rules at SBLI vary across 4 policies. Below is a breakdown of beneficiary options, trust funding, and which products support each method.
- Full legal name of each beneficiary
- Address of each beneficiary
- Date of birth (mandatory if the beneficiary is a minor)
- Relationship to the insured
- Allocation percentages if naming multiple beneficiaries
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Proof of identity (copy of driver's license, Medicare card, or other government-issued ID) is required with every beneficiary change request
- If an irrevocable beneficiary was previously named, that individual must consent in writing to the change
- A trust can be named as beneficiary by providing the trust name, date of trust, and trustee name on the beneficiary designation form
Sources
Data sourced from SBLI primary sources (20 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these SBLI instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against SBLI primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
SBLI Customer Service
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
SBLI Customer Service
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
SBLI Claims
SBLI, P.O. Box 55249, Boston, MA 02205-5249
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