How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at State Street
Beneficiaries are managed by mail. Trust paperwork is taken by mail
There are two ways to keep your State Street investment 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.
State Street has 4 investment accounts with different estate transfer rules. Here is how beneficiary designations, trust ownership, and probate apply to each one.
Beneficiary form at State Street
Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form and IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form (for IRAs).
Open the form →- IRA accounts: complete the IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form to add, remove, or change primary and secondary beneficiaries
- Non-IRA accounts: complete the Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form; if no account application is on file, submit one with the form
- For a trust beneficiary on a TOD registration, include a copy of the first and last pages of the trust agreement and the section naming the trust's beneficiaries
Required Documents
- IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form, completed (for an IRA)
- Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form, completed (for a non-IRA account)
- Account application (with the TOD form, if no account application is on file)
- First and last pages of the trust agreement, and the section naming its beneficiaries (for a trust named as beneficiary on a TOD registration). A copy is included with the form
- Include a New Account Application completed and signed for the trust account registration
- Include a complete copy of the trust agreement, or a notarized Certificate of Trust created by an attorney; the trust documentation must include the trust's beneficiary information
- All current account owners sign Section 8; a current owner who is not a trustee of the trust obtains a signature guarantee
Required Documents
- Change of Registration Form (Sections 3 and 8) (for an existing non-retirement account)
- New Account Application. Completed and signed for the trust account registration
- Trust agreement or Certificate of Trust. A complete copy of the trust agreement, or a notarized Certificate of Trust created by an attorney. Either must include the trust's beneficiary information
- Signature guarantee (for a current owner who is not a trustee of the trust)
- Trust name, trustee names, trust agreement date, and Social Security or Tax ID number (on the trust account registration)
- IRA accounts: complete the IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form to add, remove, or change primary and secondary beneficiaries
- Non-IRA accounts: complete the Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form; if no account application is on file, submit one with the form
- For a trust beneficiary on a TOD registration, include a copy of the first and last pages of the trust agreement and the section naming the trust's beneficiaries
Required Documents
- IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form, completed (for an IRA)
- Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form, completed (for a non-IRA account)
- Account application (with the TOD form, if no account application is on file)
- First and last pages of the trust agreement, and the section naming its beneficiaries (for a trust named as beneficiary on a TOD registration). A copy is included with the form
What State Street says about beneficiaries and trusts
Each section is State Street's own statement, with the document it comes from numbered under Sources.
Which accounts take a beneficiary6
- Investment account
For SPDR ETF shares, a beneficiary or TOD registration is set on the brokerage account that holds them.1
- Joint account without survivorship
TOD registration is not available for an account held as tenants in common.2
- Community property account
TOD registration is not available for a community property registration.2
- Business account
TOD registration is not available for an account owned by a corporation or a partnership.2
- Trust account
TOD registration is not available for an account owned by a trust.2
- Directly registered shares
TOD registration is not available to a shareholder who is not a resident of a state that has adopted the Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration Act.2
Who can be named2
How many beneficiaries, and how shares are split
- Directly registered shares
A TOD registration can name up to nine beneficiaries per account.2
What a designation takes to be effective
Beneficiary forms State Street issues2
- Transfer on Death (TOD) Designation Form
Available to download.2
Return to
Mailing address: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, PO Box 219238, Kansas City, MO 64121-9238 | Overnight: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 801 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 219238, Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
- IRA Beneficiary Addition/Change Form
For IRAs. Available to download.4
Return to
Mailing address: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, PO Box 219238, Kansas City, MO 64121-9238 | Overnight: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, 801 Pennsylvania Ave Suite 219238, Kansas City, MO 64105-1307
What State Street's agreement says about beneficiaries2
Which accounts a trust can hold2
Trust account forms State Street issues2
- Change of Registration Form
Available to download.5
Return to
Mailing address: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, PO Box 219238, Kansas City, MO 64121-9238
- New Account Application
Available to download.6
Return to
Mailing address: State Street Global Advisors, c/o U.S. Bank Global Fund Services, PO Box 219238, Kansas City, MO 64121-9238
Sources
Data sourced from State Street primary sources (9 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these State Street instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against State Street primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
State Street estate support
Shareholder Service Center (direct fund accounts)
Phone
Shareholder Service Center, outside the United States
ETFs and mutual funds general inquiries
Hours
Mailing address
Website
Estate requests go through general customer service.
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