How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at State Farm
Covers 13 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
State Farm, P.O. Box 2362, Bloomington, IL 61710
State Farm, P.O. Box 2362, Bloomington, IL 61710
Life Insurance Claims
State Farm Life Insurance Company, Life Claims, P.O. Box 2364, Bloomington, IL 61702-2364
For State Farm policyholders, estate planning comes down to one critical step: making sure the right beneficiaries are named on every policy. Insurance proceeds bypass probate entirely and go directly to whoever is listed—regardless of what a will says. When estate tax planning or controlled distributions are a factor, a trust can be named as beneficiary instead.
With 13 product types, State Farm offers a range of transfer options. Some policies support beneficiary designations, others can be retitled into a trust, and some require probate if no beneficiary is designated. The sections below break down each step.
- Log in to your State Farm account at statefarm.com
- Locate and click on the life insurance or annuity policy you want to update
- Find the Beneficiaries card on the policy details page
- Select "View or edit your beneficiaries"
- Agree to the Terms and Conditions
- Choose whether to edit primary or secondary (contingent) beneficiaries
- Add, edit, or remove individual beneficiaries with relationship type designation
- Adjust percentage allocations as needed (must total 100%)
- Review changes on the life beneficiary form
- Sign electronically via DocuSign and submit
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Only the authenticated policy owner can change a beneficiary
- Online beneficiary changes are currently available for Guaranteed Income Now annuity, Guaranteed Income Later annuity, and Guaranteed Issue Final Expense life insurance policies
- Online changes support individual beneficiaries only; trusts, organizations, Children Class, and UTMA/UGMA designations require agent assistance
- Online beneficiary changes are not available for New York policies
- A primary beneficiary is required; secondary (contingent) beneficiary is optional
- You cannot name the same person as both a primary and contingent beneficiary
- If an estate is listed as the primary beneficiary, a secondary beneficiary is not allowed
- Per stirpes designations are available
- Spousal consent may be required in community property states
- Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
Sources
Data sourced from State Farm primary sources (21 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these State Farm instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against State Farm primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
State Farm, P.O. Box 2362, Bloomington, IL 61710
State Farm, P.O. Box 2362, Bloomington, IL 61710
Life Insurance Claims
State Farm Life Insurance Company, Life Claims, P.O. Box 2364, Bloomington, IL 61702-2364
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