How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Western & Southern
Covers 15 insurance accounts — beneficiaries can be managed online
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Western and Southern Life Insurance Company Claims Department, P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
For Western & Southern 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 15 product types, Western & Southern 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 Western & Southern Life account at https://www.westernsouthern.com/wslife/log-in
- Navigate to your policy details and beneficiary section
- Add or update primary and contingent beneficiaries
- Provide each beneficiary's full legal name, date of birth, Social Security number, and relationship
- For trusts: provide the trust name and date established
- Specify percentage allocations
Required Documents
- Trust name, date established, and tax ID (EIN or SSN)
Special Requirements
- The DO-43 form revokes all prior designations for all classes -- all beneficiaries must be re-designated even if only changing one
- Beneficiary designation is not effective unless recorded by the Company at its Home Office
- A confirmation will be provided for the owner's records
- For establishing priority, Class I is higher than Class II, and Class II is higher than Class III
- Children may be designated individually or as a group; if designated as a group, all natural and legally adopted children living when payment is due will be beneficiaries; it is recommended to designate children individually unless you intend to include children born later
- If you reside or have resided in a community property state (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, or WI) and have not named your spouse sole beneficiary, spousal consent may be required by having your spouse sign the form
- For any contract owned by a trust or entity, that trust or entity must remain the beneficiary
- Trusts can be named as primary or contingent beneficiaries
- Ownership changes require a separate Ownership Change Request form (WSLAC Absolute Assignment)
- Annuity beneficiary changes use a separate Annuity Non-Financial Service Request Form
- For Gerber Life policies: call 1-800-704-2180 or visit gerberlife.com to update beneficiaries
- For Columbus Life policies: call 1-800-677-9595 (Mon-Fri 8am-4:45pm ET)
Sources
Data sourced from Western & Southern primary sources (23 pages reviewed). How we research.
Download these Western & Southern instructions
Download instructions for the whole estateA printable PDF with the steps, required documents, and contact details — verified against Western & Southern primary sources. Bring it to the branch or keep it beside the phone.
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
400 Broadway, Cincinnati, OH 45202-3341. Claims mailing: P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
Western & Southern Life Claims Department
Western and Southern Life Insurance Company Claims Department, P.O. Box 1399, Cincinnati, OH 45273-9425
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