Can I make my child my life insurance beneficiary?
Andrew Ramirez
Published Apr 05, 2026
Under the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act, you can set up an account for your child with a financial institution, such as a bank or life insurance company. You can also establish a trust for your child and name the trust as the beneficiary of the policy.
Can I make my daughter my beneficiary?
If you have a living trust, you can name your minor child beneficiary to its assets. Then you can name the trust the beneficiary of your life insurance policy and the designated trustee will manage the funds on behalf of your child.
Can life insurance beneficiary be a parent?
I’m a single parent You can name a child as a beneficiary, but you should be aware that life insurance companies cannot pay out a policy to a minor. This can get complicated, though, which is why it’s important to list a custodian immediately upon naming a minor as a beneficiary.
Can a minor be named as a beneficiary on a life insurance policy?
Naming a minor child as a beneficiary on your life insurance policy Parents use life insurance to provide for their children in the event that one or both of them die unexpectedly. However, naming a minor child as a beneficiary isn’t always the best approach. Life insurance companies won’t pay life benefits directly to a minor.
Who are the beneficiaries on a term life insurance policy?
One of the most important steps in setting up your term life insurance policy is naming your beneficiary. This beneficiary is the individual who will receive the policy’s benefits (money payout) upon your death.
What happens to your life insurance policy if your spouse dies?
If your primary beneficiary — your spouse — dies before you, your insurance policy proceeds will go to your secondary beneficiary, your sister. But if you don’t have a secondary beneficiary listed (that is, only your spouse is listed on your life insurance policy) then there is essentially no beneficiary.
What happens if you have no beneficiary on your life insurance policy?
But if you don’t have a secondary beneficiary listed — that is, only your spouse is listed on your life insurance policy — then there is no one left to collect the death benefit payout. If you were to die without naming a new beneficiary, the would go to your estate.