Estate planning at STRS Ohio

How to protect 5 STRS Ohio accounts — manage beneficiaries online, and file death claims

STRS Ohio

Subsidiary of State of Ohio

strsoh.org
STRS Ohio logo

STRS Ohio Member Services Center

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

STRS Ohio Member Services Center

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

STRS Ohio Member Services Center (Report a Death)

Mailing Address

State Teachers Retirement System of Ohio, 275 East Broad Street, Columbus, OH 43215-3771

Verified Jul 2026

STRS Ohio provides pension benefits that pass to a named survivor or beneficiary at death, outside of probate. The benefit STRS Ohio pays depends on the option the member elected and the beneficiary on record, which is why families should confirm designations well before they are needed.

Managing beneficiaries at STRS Ohio is straightforward—changes can be made online and by mail. Trust funding options vary by account type—check with STRS Ohio for specifics.

STRS Ohio provides specific procedures for both proactive estate planning and filing claims after a death.

STRS Ohio is not available nationwide. Estate planning procedures may vary by state, so confirm that your location is served before making account changes.


Frequently asked questions

When no valid beneficiary designation is on file, STRS Ohio pays benefits by the succession order in the plan document: first the surviving spouse; then the member's children, share and share alike; then the member's parents, share and share alike.

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Sources

Data sourced from STRS Ohio primary sources (7 pages reviewed). How we research.

Estate planning articles

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