How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Sun Life
Covers 14 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
Phone1-800-786-5433
Mailing Address
Sun Life, One Sun Life Executive Park, 96 Worcester St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-786-5433
Mailing Address
Sun Life, One Sun Life Executive Park, 96 Worcester St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Beneficiary Services
Phone1-800-247-6875
Toll-Free1-800-247-6875
Fax1-800-979-5128
Mailing Address
Sun Life, Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 81365, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning with Sun Life 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.
With 14 product types, Sun Life 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.
Sun Life Group Term Life InsuranceSun Life Voluntary Life InsuranceSun Life Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)Sun Life Individual Whole Life InsuranceSun Life Individual Universal Life InsuranceSun Life Individual Term Life InsuranceSun Life Accident InsuranceSun Life Critical Illness InsuranceSun Life Cancer InsuranceSun Life Hospital Indemnity InsuranceSun Life Disability InsuranceSun Life Dental InsuranceSun Life Vision InsuranceSun Life Medical Stop-Loss Insurance
1
Sign in to your Sun Life account at sunlife.com/us
2
Navigate to your life insurance or AD&D coverage
3
Update your beneficiary designations:
- Add primary beneficiaries with full legal names, dates of birth, relationships, and percentage allocations totaling 100%
- Add contingent beneficiaries if desired with their own percentage allocations totaling 100%
- For trusts: enter the full legal trust name, date established, and trust EIN
4
Review and confirm your beneficiary designations
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- Trusts can be named as beneficiaries on group life, AD&D, and individual life policies
- Primary and contingent beneficiary percentage allocations must each total 100%
- If no contingent beneficiary is designated, the contingent defaults to the estate of the insured
- Group life beneficiary changes may require employer coordination depending on plan administration
- Members on Waiver of Premium must submit beneficiary changes directly to Sun Life, not through the employer
- Beneficiary designations override instructions in a will
- New York policies are administered separately through Sun Life and Health Insurance Company (U.S.)
- Individual term policies with SC or SU prefix are serviced separately at 877-431-7379
Phone1-800-786-5433
Mailing Address
Sun Life, One Sun Life Executive Park, 96 Worcester St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteLearn more→
Phone1-800-786-5433
Mailing Address
Sun Life, One Sun Life Executive Park, 96 Worcester St., Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteLearn more→
Death Claims / Beneficiary Services
Phone1-800-247-6875
Toll-Free1-800-247-6875
Fax1-800-979-5128
Mailing Address
Sun Life, Group Life Claims, P.O. Box 81365, Wellesley Hills, MA 02481
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified Apr 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Sun Life accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
