Get Nationwide Beneficiary Change Form

Generally, you can review and update your beneficiary designations by contacting the company or organization that provides your insurance or retirement plan. You can sometimes do this online. Otherwise, you'll have to complete, sign, and mail a paper form.

Once you name an irrevocable beneficiary on your policy, you can't change the beneficiary without their consent.

The beneficiary can be either revocable or irrevocable. A revocable beneficiary can be changed at any time. Once named, an irrevocable beneficiary cannot be changed without his or her consent.

A primary beneficiary is the person (or people or organizations) you name to receive your stuff when you die. A contingent beneficiary is second in line to receive your assets in case the primary beneficiary passes away. And a residuary beneficiary gets any property that isn't specifically left to another beneficiary.

Write only one beneficiary on each line. Make sure that you write the full names of all beneficiaries. For example, if you name you children as beneficiaries, DO NOT merely write “children” on one of the lines; instead write the full names of each of your children on separate lines.

The beneficiary can be either revocable or irrevocable. A revocable beneficiary can be changed at any time. Once named, an irrevocable beneficiary cannot be changed without his or her consent.

Usually there are two ways in which a beneficiary can be removed; The beneficiary can sign a legal document renouncing their interest in the Trust assets. The Trustee can use their discretionary power to remove an individual as a beneficiary by following the instructions in the Trust Deed.

The policy owner is the only person who can change the beneficiary designation in most cases. If you have an irrevocable beneficiary or live in a community property state you need approval to make policy changes. A power of attorney can give someone else the ability to change your beneficiaries.