What Stands Out in Fidelity’s Forms
- Per stirpes is offered on Fidelity’s IRA, TOD, Self-Employed 401(k), HSA and annuity forms, each with a checkbox for each beneficiary.
- Employer plans administered through Fidelity Workplace (NetBenefits) offer no per stirpes option, so a predeceased beneficiary’s share goes to the surviving primary beneficiaries.
- A trust can be named as a primary or contingent beneficiary on every Fidelity form we read.
- Fidelity’s TOD agreement keeps a former spouse as beneficiary after a divorce until a new designation is filed.
Each account type below follows its own form. For every rule, the answer is in plain words, and “Show the wording” opens the firm’s own sentence with its form number, revision date and page. “Not stated” means the firm’s public documents are silent on the point, not that it refuses.
IRA: Fidelity Investments
Covers Traditional IRA (incl. Rollover, SEP, SIMPLE); Roth IRA; Inherited IRA (beneficiary naming successor beneficiaries).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“Primary Beneficiaries ... Non-Spouse / Trust / Other Entity”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“Contingent Beneficiaries ... Non-Spouse / Trust / Other Entity”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust date and TIN; no trustee name asked
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, TIN and trust date; no trustee name
Show the wording
“Name ... Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number ... Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
Per stirpes offered?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“If you outlive a beneficiary and you want that beneficiary's share to go to his or her descendants, check "Per stirpes."”
How per stirpes is defined
Yes. Descendants by right of representation; creates a class that can include later-born descendants
Show the wording
“if you check "per stirpes," that any share otherwise payable to a beneficiary shall instead be paid to that beneficiary's surviving descendants by right of representation if the original beneficiary does not survive the account owner. ... "per stirpes" creates a category of beneficiaries (for example, the children of a beneficiary), and therefore may end up including individuals not yet born or adopted.”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Each beneficiary is named individually (name, TIN, date of birth); only a per stirpes election on a named beneficiary creates a class
Show the wording
“by name does NOT create a category of ... beneficiaries, and that if you later want to ... include other beneficiaries, you will need ... to submit a new beneficiary form.”
If a beneficiary dies first
Yes. Lapsed share divided equally among survivors unless per stirpes
Show the wording
“Unless otherwise designated by the Depositor in a form and manner acceptable to the Custodian, if a primary or contingent Beneficiary designated by the Depositor predeceases the Depositor, the Shares and Other Funding Vehicles for which that deceased Beneficiary is entitled will be divided equally among the surviving primary and contingent Beneficiary(ies)”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Surviving spouse, else estate
Show the wording
“If the Depositor had not by the date of his or her death properly designated a Beneficiary ... or if no designated primary or contingent Beneficiary survives the Depositor, the Depositor's Beneficiary shall be his or her surviving spouse, but if he or she has no surviving spouse, his or her estate.”
Minor beneficiaries
Yes. Minor may be named; custodian chooses parent, guardian, UTMA or minor at payout
Show the wording
“the Custodian may, in its absolute discretion, make all, or any part of the distribution to (i) a parent of such person, (ii) the guardian, conservator, or other legal representative ... (iii) a custodial account established under a Uniform Gifts to Minors Act, Uniform Transfers to Minors Act ... or (v) to such person directly”
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 4 primary and 4 contingent lines; copy the page for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for information, make a copy of the relevant page.”
Can you change it online?
Yes. Fidelity.com/beneficiary
Show the wording
“You can add or change beneficiaries anytime, or on any other types of accounts, at Fidelity.com/beneficiary.”
How to submit
Yes. Online at Fidelity.com/beneficiary; upload; mail (address on Fidelity.com)
Show the wording
“For faster processing, complete, sign, and submit using the ... digital uploading process ... can the QR code OR go to Fidelity.com/upload-Bene-IRA/HSA ... You can add or change beneficiaries anytime, or on any”
Employer plan: Self-Employed 401(k)
Covers Self-Employed 401(k) (Fidelity plan document).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Checkbox
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust date and TIN; no trustee name asked
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, TIN, trust date
Show the wording
“Name ... Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number ... Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
Per stirpes offered?
Yes. Checkbox
Show the wording
“If you outlive a beneficiary and you want that beneficiary's share to go to his or her descendants, check "Per stirpes."”
How per stirpes is defined
Yes. Right of representation; creates a class
Show the wording
“if you check "per stirpes," that any share otherwise payable to a beneficiary shall instead be paid to that beneficiary's surviving descendants by right of representation if the original beneficiary does not survive the account owner. ... "per stirpes" creates a category of beneficiaries”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Each beneficiary named individually
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Spouse, else estate
Show the wording
“if you do not properly name a beneficiary, or no beneficiary survives you, your beneficiary will be your spouse or, if you are not married, your estate in accordance with the rules of succession in the Plan Document.”
Spousal consent
Yes. Spouse must be sole primary or consent
Show the wording
“If you are married, and you designate anyone other than your spouse as beneficiary, you must provide a notarized signature of your spouse in Section 5. ... Notarized signature required if spouse is not the only primary beneficiary.”
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. Copy the page for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for information, make a copy of the relevant page.”
Can you change it online?
Yes. Online
Show the wording
“You can change beneficiaries any time at Fidelity.com/beneficiary.”
How to submit
Yes. Online; upload; mail
Show the wording
“complete, sign, and submit using the ... can the QR code OR go to Fidelity.com/upload-DCRP-Bene ... You can change beneficiaries any time at Fidelity.com/”
Employer plan: 403(b) and 401(k)
Covers 403(b) and 401(k) (ERISA plan with QPSA).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Trust is a listed relationship
Show the wording
“Relationship to Applicant: Spouse OR Trust OR Estate/Charity OR Other ... Trust Name”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Yes
Show the wording
“Contingent Beneficiary(ies) ... Trust Name ... Date of Birth or Trust Date”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust name and date; TIN (or owner SSN); one trustee if available
Show the wording
“If you designate a trust as a beneficiary, please include the trust's name and the date the trust was created.”
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, date, TIN (or owner SSN); trustee if available; trust must already exist
Show the wording
“Naming a trust: Provide the name, date, and tax identification number of the trust (if available). If there has not been a tax identification number assigned to the trust, provide your Social Security number. The trust must be established prior to the date this form is submitted. ... If available, provide the name and address of one trustee.”
Trust documents requested
No. Told not to send the trust
Per stirpes offered?
No. No per stirpes option; lapse to survivors
Show the wording
“If a percentage is indicated and a primary beneficiary(ies) does not survive you, the percentage of that beneficiary's designated share shall be divided among the surviving primary beneficiaries in proportion to the percentage selected for them.”
Custom designations accepted?
Yes. Signed and dated attachment
Show the wording
“To assign additional beneficiaries, or to designate a more complex beneficiary designation, please attach, sign, and date a separate piece of paper with this information.”
If a beneficiary dies first
Yes. Pro rata to surviving beneficiaries
Show the wording
“If a percentage is indicated and a primary beneficiary(ies) does not survive you, the percentage of that beneficiary's designated share shall be divided among the surviving primary beneficiaries in proportion to the percentage selected for them.”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Per plan document
Show the wording
“if I choose not to designate a beneficiary, distributions will be made according to the plan document or, if applicable, the Fidelity Investments Section 403(b)(7) Individual Custodial Account Agreement.”
Minor beneficiaries
Yes. Allowed; guardian may be needed
Show the wording
“If you should choose a minor, a person who is not legally competent, or an estate as beneficiary, it may be necessary to have a guardian or administrator appointed before any proceeds can be paid.”
Can the estate be named?
Yes. Yes
Show the wording
“Estate/Charity ... Naming an estate: Letters of appointment issued by the court naming the executor or administrator of the estate must be provided when a claim is filed.”
Spousal consent
Yes. At least 50% to spouse absent consent
Show the wording
“If you are married, your plan requires you to designate that your spouse receives at least 50% of your vested account balance unless your spouse consents”
Effect of divorce
Yes. Does not revoke unless law or plan requires
Show the wording
“this designation is not automatically revoked by your divorce from the former spouse. Unless ... otherwise required by applicable federal or state law, or the terms of your retirement plan document, your former spouse will remain”
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 3 + 3 lines; attach a signed, dated sheet for more
Show the wording
“You are not limited to three primary and three contingent beneficiaries.”
How to submit
Yes. Upload in NetBenefits app; mail or overnight mail
Show the wording
“Digitally using the NetBenefits® Mobile App ... Tap: Actions > Send a Document ... Regular Mail”
Brokerage TOD: Fidelity Investments
Covers Brokerage TOD (individual, JTWROS, tenants by the entirety).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Trust checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“Primary Beneficiaries For each beneficiary you list, check a beneficiary type ... Non-Spouse Trust Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Trust checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“Contingent beneficiaries receive assets only if no primary beneficiary survives you. ... Non-Spouse Trust Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust date and TIN; no trustee name asked
Show the wording
“Non-Spouse Trust Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, TIN, trust date
Show the wording
“Non-Spouse Trust Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
Per stirpes offered?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“If you outlive a beneficiary and you want that beneficiary's share to go to his or her descendants, check "Per stirpes."”
How per stirpes is defined
Yes. Right of representation, with a worked allocation rule
Show the wording
“The term "per stirpes" means that if any primary or contingent beneficiary dies before the account holder but has surviving descendants, that beneficiary's share is paid to such surviving descendants by right of representation. ... Each living child is allocated one share. The share of each deceased child with living descendants is allocated one share, which is divided equally among such living descendants. This subdivision is repeated at each succeeding generation”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Only named beneficiaries (plus per stirpes descendants of a named beneficiary) take
Show the wording
“only named beneficiaries will share in the Account assets, and ... others who may be in the same group of descendants as named ... individuals (e.g., other children or grandchildren) but who are not ... named will not share in the Account assets”
If a beneficiary dies first
Yes. Lapsed share to surviving primaries pro rata, then contingents; estate if none
Show the wording
“or because one or more beneficiaries is deceased on the Date of ... Death, such eligible assets shall be distributed to the primary ... who survive the account holder in the same proportion that ... their original shares bear to each other”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Assets not covered by TOD go to the owner's estate
Show the wording
“the ineligible assets will be paid to the estate of the account holder”
Minor beneficiaries
Yes. Fidelity chooses parent, guardian, existing UTMA account
Show the wording
“If a beneficiary is a minor or otherwise under a legal disability, Fidelity may, in its absolute discretion, make all, or any part of the distribution for such beneficiary to: (1) a parent of such beneficiary; (2) the guardian, conservator, or other legal representative, wherever appointed, of such beneficiary; (3) an existing custodial account established for such beneficiary under a Uniform Transfers to Minors Act”
Effect of divorce
Yes. Does not revoke; former spouse remains unless a new form is filed (agreement governed by Massachusetts law)
Show the wording
“sequent marriage, dissolution of marriage, remarriage or adoption, ... will not automatically add or revoke designations of beneficiaries. ... For example, if a former spouse was a designated beneficiary prior ... to dissolution of the marriage, the former spouse would remain a ... beneficiary after the dissolution unless his or her designation as”
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 4 primary and 4 contingent lines; copy the page for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for information or ... signatures, make a copy of the relevant page.”
Can you change it online?
Yes. Online or paper
Show the wording
“You can change beneficiaries any time at Fidelity.com/beneficiary.”
How to submit
Yes. Online; upload; mail
Show the wording
“For faster processing, complete, sign, and submit using the ... Scan the QR code OR go to Fidelity.com/upload-Bene ... You can change beneficiaries any time at”
Annuity: Fidelity Investments
Covers Fidelity deferred annuities (FILI / Empire Fidelity; also Brighthouse Growth and Income and NY Retirement Reserves).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Allowed; trust-owned FPRA/FDRA must name the owning trust as sole beneficiary; the annuity guide adds that a trust beneficiary must be paid out within five years
Show the wording
“Name of Person, Trust, or Entity ... For Fidelity Personal Retirement and Fidelity Fixed Deferred Retirement Annuities, trust-owned contracts MUST have the owning”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Yes
Show the wording
“Contingent Beneficiaries ... Name of Person, Trust, or Entity”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust date and TIN; no trustee name asked
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, TIN, trust date
Show the wording
“Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number ... Date of Birth or Trust MM DD YYYY”
Per stirpes offered?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary, not for trust or estate beneficiaries; the guide says the words "per stirpes" must appear or per capita applies
Show the wording
“Agree that by checking the "per stirpes" ... box next to a beneficiary's name, any sum”
How per stirpes is defined
Yes. Equally among the beneficiary's surviving legal descendants (children born to or adopted by the beneficiary); creates a class
Show the wording
“box next to a beneficiary's name, any sum ... payable to that beneficiary will be divided ... equally among the beneficiary's surviving legal ... descendants, if the beneficiary him- or herself ... is no longer living on the date of death.”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Named individuals only; later-born children need a new form
Show the wording
“by name does NOT create a category, ... and that if you later want to include other ... beneficiaries (such as any children born to ... or adopted by you in the future), you will ... need to file a new beneficiary form with”
If a beneficiary dies first
Yes. Lapsed share to surviving beneficiaries of the same class unless per stirpes
Show the wording
“contract), that beneficiary's share of the death benefit ... is apportioned among the surviving members of the”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Estate in most cases
Show the wording
“death, in most cases, the estate will be deemed ... the beneficiary and the death benefit must then”
Minor beneficiaries
Yes. Minor may be named; parent needs court approval, a custodian needs birth certificate or court document; for a custodial contract the minor's estate is primary beneficiary
Show the wording
“You may designate a minor child (e.g., a grandchild) ... behalf of his or her child, Fidelity requires a copy of ... the court approval before settling the claim or acting”
Can the estate be named?
Yes. Yes; five-year payout
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 5 primary and 3 contingent lines; copy or blank sheet for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for additional primary OR contingent beneficiaries, make a copy of this Section 3 or use a blank sheet.”
Wording the firm refuses
Yes. For Fidelity-issued trust-owned annuities (not CRTs) only natural persons may be beneficiaries
Show the wording
“Certify that for Fidelity-issued trust-owned ... annuities (excluding charitable remainder ... trusts), all beneficiaries are natural persons.”
Can you change it online?
Yes. Form or online
Show the wording
“Beneficiary Form for Annuities or establish or update ... your beneficiaries online. Contact your Fidelity”
How to submit
Yes. Mail (Annuity Service Center, regular or overnight); online (see online_designation)
Show the wording
“Send the ENTIRE form to Fidelity ... Annuity Service Center”
Life insurance: Fidelity Investments
Covers Fidelity term life insurance (FILI / Empire Fidelity).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Yes
Show the wording
“Name of Person, Trust, or Entity ... Date of Birth or Trust MM DD YYYY”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Secondary class
Show the wording
“Secondary Beneficiaries ... Name of Person, Trust, or Entity”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Name, date and trustee (older form 1.906359.105; current form asks TIN and trust date)
Show the wording
“In trust situations, be sure to include legal name of trust, date of trust and name of trustee(s).”
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Trust name, date, trustee(s); TIN if applicable
Show the wording
“In trust situations, be sure to include legal name of trust, date of trust and name of trustee(s). If applicable,”
Sample trust wording
Yes. Sample trust designation format
Show the wording
“John A. Doe, Irrevocable Trust dated 1/1/2000. Mary J. Doe, trustee.”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Each person must be named
Show the wording
“Do not designate a class of people such as "the children of the insured."”
If a beneficiary dies first
Yes. Equally to survivors in the same class
Show the wording
“If a Beneficiary dies before the benefit is payable, his or her share will be allocated equally among any surviving”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Policy owner (if not the insured), then owner's estate
Show the wording
“If no Beneficiary is then alive, to the policy owner if ... If the owner is not living, payment will go to the Owner”
Minor beneficiaries
Yes. Payable to guardian; evidence of guardianship required
Show the wording
“Naming of Beneficiaries: If a named Beneficiary is a minor or deemed incompetent, benefits will be payable to the legal guardian or conservator.”
Can the estate be named?
Yes. Sample designation
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 3 primary and 3 secondary lines; copy or blank sheet for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for additional primary OR secondary beneficiaries, make a copy of this page or use a blank sheet.”
Wording the firm refuses
Yes. Class designations refused
Show the wording
“Do not designate a class of people such as "the children of the insured." Name all individuals in the appropriate section on the Beneficiary form.”
How to submit
Yes. Mail (regular or overnight); signature must be witnessed by a non-beneficiary; all trustees sign for a trust-owned policy
Show the wording
“Send the ENTIRE ... form to Fidelity Investments. After the changes are ... Policy owner or authorized individual must sign and date this form in the presence of”
HSA: Fidelity Investments
Covers Health Savings Account (Fidelity HSA).
Can a trust be the primary beneficiary?
Yes. Same IRA/HSA form; trust checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“Use this form to add or change the beneficiaries of your Fidelity IRA ... or Fidelity HSA account(s) ... Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
Can a trust be a contingent beneficiary?
Yes. Trust checkbox per contingent beneficiary
Show the wording
“Contingent beneficiaries ... receive assets only if no ... Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
How must a trust be named?
Yes. Trust date and TIN; no trustee name asked
What trust details are asked for?
Yes. Name, TIN, trust date
Show the wording
“Social Security or Taxpayer ID Number ... Date of Birth/Trust MM DD YYYY”
Per stirpes offered?
Yes. Checkbox per beneficiary
Show the wording
“If you outlive a ... beneficiary and you ... want that beneficiary's ... her descendants, check”
How per stirpes is defined
Yes. Descendants by right of representation
Show the wording
“stirpes," that any share otherwise payable ... to a beneficiary shall instead be paid to ... that beneficiary's surviving descendants by ... right of representation if the original bene-”
Can you name a class, such as “my descendants”?
No. Each beneficiary named individually
Show the wording
“by name does NOT create a category of ... to submit a new beneficiary form.”
If no beneficiary is named or survives
Yes. Spouse, else estate (HSA custodial agreement not saved)
Show the wording
“survives you, your beneficiary will be your ... spouse or, if you are not married, your ... estate, in accordance with the rules of ... succession in the applicable Fidelity IRA or ... HSA Custodial Agreement.”
Limit on the number of beneficiaries
No. 4 primary and 4 contingent lines; copy the page for more
Show the wording
“If you need more room for information, make a copy of the relevant page.”
Can you change it online?
Yes. Fidelity.com/beneficiary
Show the wording
“You can add or change beneficiaries anytime, or on any”
How to submit
Yes. Online; upload; mail
Show the wording
“For faster processing, complete, sign, and submit using the ... can the QR code OR go to Fidelity.com/upload-Bene-IRA/HSA”
Do your Fidelity beneficiaries match your will or trust?
Book a free 30-minute consult. We will read your designations against your estate plan and fix the ones that do not match.
Book your free consultRelated Guides
- Vanguard Beneficiary Form Rules: IRA, TOD and 401(k)
- TIAA Beneficiary Designation Form Rules: IRA and 403(b)
- Beneficiary designation rules at 286 institutions
- Can a trust be a beneficiary? How to name one, form by form
- What is a TOD account
- Naming a trust as IRA beneficiary
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Do I Get a Fidelity Beneficiary Form?
Fidelity lets you change beneficiaries online at Fidelity.com/beneficiary, and it publishes separate paper forms for IRAs and HSAs, for nonretirement transfer on death accounts, and for its Self-Employed 401(k). Employer plans run through Fidelity Workplace use the plan’s own beneficiary form, which can be uploaded in the NetBenefits app or mailed.
Can I Name My Trust as Beneficiary at Fidelity?
Yes. Every Fidelity beneficiary form we read lets you mark a beneficiary as a trust. The IRA, HSA and TOD forms ask for the trust’s taxpayer identification number and the trust date.
Does Fidelity Offer Per Stirpes?
On its own IRA, TOD, Self-Employed 401(k), HSA and annuity forms, yes, with a checkbox for each beneficiary. Employer plans administered through Fidelity Workplace do not offer it.
Common Situations
The IRA and the 401(k) that split differently. A father checks per stirpes for each of his three children on his Fidelity IRA, then names the same three children on his employer 401(k) held through Fidelity Workplace, where the form offers no per stirpes. If one child dies before him, that child’s children share in the IRA but receive nothing from the 401(k).
The trust named everywhere. A widow names her revocable trust as the primary beneficiary on her Fidelity IRA, brokerage TOD account and HSA. Each Fidelity form accepts a trust, so all three accounts pass to her successor trustee, who follows the trust’s rules for her grandchildren.
Sources
Every rule on this page is from Fidelity’s own forms, agreements and plan documents, read September 24 and 25, 2026 for our beneficiary designation rules dataset, where each quotation is listed with its source, form number, revision date and page. Firms revise their forms; confirm the current version with Fidelity.
Updated on September 28, 2026. Reviewed by Kevin D. Klagge, Esq., Fla. Bar No. 99502. Attorney Kevin Klagge represents families, businesses, and international clients in estate and tax planning, business structuring, and international law, with a focus on Florida legal tools. He litigates estate and business issues in court. StepUpLaw is not affiliated with Fidelity Investments, and the quotations are from its own published documents. General information, not legal advice, and no attorney-client relationship is created. Do not send confidential information until we have agreed to represent you.
More Guides on Florida Estate Planning
This guide is part of Florida Estate Planning.
- Payable on Death (POD) Account Rules
- Annuity and Life Insurance Beneficiary Rules
- IRA Beneficiary Designation Rules
- 401(k), 403(b) and TSP Beneficiary Rules
- Transfer on Death (TOD) Beneficiary Rules
- Fidelity TOD Account
- Chase Payable on Death (POD) Account
- Bank of America Payable on Death (POD) Account
Try the Which Estate Plan Do I Need? (quiz).