How to name beneficiaries and fund a trust at Zurich

A trust can be named on the Request for Service, which takes the date of trust in place of a date of birth.¹

A trust can be named on ZA-1025 with its full name, the date it was established, and the first and last page of the trust.²

Each beneficiary is primary or contingent with a percentage of proceeds. Unless otherwise directed, proceeds are paid in equal shares to beneficiaries in the same class, primary first, then contingent.¹

Primary percentages total 100% and contingent percentages total 100%.²

The policy owner signs section 10. The form has signature lines for any irrevocable beneficiary, assignee and a witness.¹

For life insurance policys. Completed by the policy owner. Available to download.^{1, 3}

Return to

For annuitys. Available to download.^{2, 4}

Return to

Section 1 (Change Beneficiary) of the Request for Service revokes any prior beneficiary designations.¹

A primary beneficiary designated as irrevocable may not be changed without the irrevocable beneficiary's consent.¹

ZA-1025: "The new designation cancels all previous designations, subject to the rights of any existing assignment."²

A change made on the Request for Service becomes effective as indicated under the terms of the policy.¹

ZA-1025: "After we receive and record the change form, it will take effect on the date the change was signed. However, any action taken by us before such change is received and recorded will remain valid."²

Unless otherwise indicated on ZA-1025, the right to change the beneficiary is reserved by the owner(s).²

ZA-1025 states: "A change of owner may have tax consequences."²

The Collateral Assignment forms on Zurich's sites assign a policy as security for a debt. They are not ownership-transfer forms.³

Ownership of a life insurance policy is transferred to a trust in section 2 of the Request for Service, with "Trust" as the type of owner, together with the Certification of Trust Agreement.^{1, 5}

Section 7 (Ownership Change) of ZA-1025 changes an annuity contract's owner to a trust. It applies to Non-Qualified and Custodial IRA accounts only.²

For life insurance policys. Completed by the new owner signs section 2. Available to download.¹

Return to

For life insurance policys. Completed by each trustee. Available to download.⁵

Return to

For annuitys. Completed by the existing owner(s), who sign in Section 10. Available to download.²

Return to

For annuitys. Available to download.^{6, 4}

Return to

The Certification of Trust Agreement "must be submitted whenever a trust is named the owner of a life insurance policy." It is also required on any in-force service request on a trust-owned policy for which none has been provided within the past twelve months.⁵

Each trustee signs the Certification of Trust Agreement (ZM-23430HN).⁵

On ZA-1025 the existing owner(s) sign in Section 10, and the ownership change includes the trustee's signature.²

Administration of Zurich life insurance policies from June 1, 2026⁷

Annuity contracts it administers; call it for mailing direction⁸

Annuity contracts it administers; call it for mailing direction⁸