Estate planning at Western & Southern
How to protect 15 Western & Southern accounts — manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and file claims through Western & Southern's Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Phone1-866-832-7719
Toll-Free1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
One-Time Payments
Columbus Life Customer Service/Claims
Gerber Life Customer Service
Gerber Life Claims
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Phone1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
One-Time Payments
Columbus Life Customer Service/Claims
Gerber Life Customer Service
Gerber Life Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Phone1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
Western and Southern Life Insurance Company Claims Department, P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Columbus Life Claims
Gerber Life Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Western & Southern is a insurance company with 15 products relevant to estate planning. Life insurance and annuity proceeds transfer directly to named beneficiaries outside of probate, making beneficiary designations one of the most important estate planning steps for Western & Southern policyholders.
Western & Southern lets account holders update beneficiary designations online, in branch, by mail, and by phone, typically taking 10-15 minutes. Trust funding is also available, allowing families to name a trust as the policy beneficiary or establish an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT).
There are two sides to estate planning at Western & Southern: setting things up while you're alive, and the process survivors follow after a death.
Preparing your estate
Beneficiaries and trust funding
How to manage beneficiaries online, fund a trust in-branch, and review 15 account types at Western & Southern.
View details →When someone dies
Death claim process
Contact Western & Southern's Western & Southern Life Claims Department to file a claim. 4-step process, 7 required documents, and contact information for survivors.
View details →For questions about any of these procedures, contact Western & Southern's Western & Southern Life Claims Department at 1-800-926-1315. Email inquiries can be sent to claimform@westernsouthern.com.
Frequently asked questions
You can update beneficiaries online by logging in at westernsouthern.com, by calling 1-866-832-7719 (Mon-Thu 8am-8pm ET, Fri 8am-6pm ET), or by completing the Request for Policy Service form (DO-43) and mailing it to 400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. The form revokes all prior designations for all classes, so you must re-designate all beneficiaries even if only changing one. Beneficiary designations are not effective until recorded at the Home Office.
Western & Southern Financial Group is the parent company of several insurance and financial services subsidiaries: Western & Southern Life Insurance Company (life insurance), Western-Southern Life Assurance Company, Columbus Life Insurance Company (life insurance through independent professionals), Gerber Life Insurance Company (budget-friendly life insurance with over $50 billion in force), Integrity Life Insurance Company and National Integrity Life Insurance Company (annuities), Lafayette Life Insurance Company, Fort Washington Investment Advisors (investment management), Touchstone Investments (mutual funds), W&S Financial Group Distributors, and Eagle Realty Group (commercial real estate).
Annuity beneficiary changes use a separate Annuity Non-Financial Service Request Form, which can be obtained by calling 1-866-832-7719 or through your financial professional. For Integrity Life and National Integrity Life annuity products, contact W&S Financial Group Distributors for the appropriate forms. The beneficiary designation form should not be used to change ownership to another person; use the separate Ownership Change Request form for that purpose.
If you reside or have resided in a community property state (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, or Wisconsin) and have not named your spouse as sole beneficiary, spousal consent may be required. Your spouse may need to sign the Request for Policy Service form (DO-43). Contact Western & Southern Life at 1-866-832-7719 for details about your specific situation.
Sources
Data sourced from Western & Southern primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Phone1-866-832-7719
Toll-Free1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
One-Time Payments
Columbus Life Customer Service/Claims
Gerber Life Customer Service
Gerber Life Claims
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Phone1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
One-Time Payments
Columbus Life Customer Service/Claims
Gerber Life Customer Service
Gerber Life Claims
WebsiteLearn more→
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Phone1-800-926-1315
Mailing Address
Western and Southern Life Insurance Company Claims Department, P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Columbus Life Claims
Gerber Life Claims
WebsiteNotify online→
Verified May 2026
Estate planning articles
Learn how to protect your Western & Southern accounts and other assets with trusts, beneficiary designations, and estate planning documents.
