Beneficiary name change

[ripper1]

If my daughter as my beneficiary changes her name do I need to make those changes to my will, retirement accounts, etc.?

[Sunset]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ripper1 If my daughter as my beneficiary changes her name do I need to make those changes to my will, retirement accounts, etc.?

It's easy on retirement and bank/investment accounts, so those really are not an issue.

I'll be interested in the Will answer ( I'm guessing not).

[RunningBum]

Somewhere I read or was told that as long as it wasn't contested in the will, it wouldn't be a problem. Especially if your will read something like "to my daughter, Jane ripper1". I'd still change it next time you updated the will. I'd probably ask whoever drew up your will. Maybe they'd update it cheaply for just a name change.

On accounts, I'd definitely change them, though if you gave info like birthdate or SSN, and she had her birth certificate with that name, it's probably not a problem, but why put her through the headache?

[JustCurious]

It's easy to change her name as beneficiary on retirement accounts, why not do it?

[CRLLS]

First, IANAL.

It is relatively simple to create a Codicile (amendment) to an existing will stating the name change. I would do that instead of waiting for the next time you update the will. The same can be done as an Amendment to a Living Trust if you have one. Certainly anywhere you can make the name change to an account I would do that just to eliminate any problems your daughter might have with an institution.