Can your boyfriend be your beneficiary?
Andrew Mclaughlin
Published Apr 02, 2026
Besides naming a spouse as beneficiary, a policyholder could choose another family member, such as an adult child, a business partner or even a boyfriend or girlfriend outside the marriage. Insurance companies don’t make moral judgments about who is named as beneficiary.
Can you put a beneficiary on a checking account?
Checking accounts don’t require account holders to name a beneficiary. After a beneficiary is chosen, the bank provides the appropriate form, called a “Totten trust”, to be filled out, which will allow funds to pass directly to the beneficiary after your death.
Can you add someone to your checking accounts as a death beneficiary?
Adding Beneficiaries to a Checking or Savings Account You can add a beneficiary or a payable-on-death (POD) to most savings and checking accounts. Sometimes your bank will ask for this information when you’re opening a new account, but they don’t always.
Yes, you can put a beneficiary on a bank account. You have a couple different options to accomplish the goal, and all of them are fairly easy. If you’re opening a brand new account, you could immediately open a POD account. This would mean the account automatically transfers after your death.
You can add a beneficiary or a payable-on-death (POD) to most savings and checking accounts. Sometimes your bank will ask for this information when you’re opening a new account, but they don’t always. And sometimes you can’t add or change beneficiaries online.
Can you name beneficiaries on bank accounts?
To name a beneficiary on a bank account, you have to convert the account into an informal trust, then name a person, group or organization as Payment on Death beneficiary.
Do you have to have a beneficiary for a checking account?
Do Bank Accounts Need Beneficiaries? Unlike some other accounts, checking accounts are not required to have named beneficiaries. Even though they’re not needed, you may want to consider designating beneficiaries for your bank accounts in order to protect your assets.
Where do I go to add a beneficiary to my account?
If your bank has a brick-and-mortar branch, you may need to visit the personal banker with the beneficiary or with that person’s information, including address and Social Security number to add them to your account or change beneficiaries.
How can I transfer money to a beneficiary account?
They simply need to go to the bank with proper identification and a certified copy of the death certificate. The bank will have a copy of the form you filled out naming them the beneficiary. The bank will provide the new account owner with a few additional forms, and them the money is transferred.
Can you name more than one beneficiary on a bank account?
As with naming an authorized signer, you’ll typically need to visit the bank in person in order to fill out required forms and provide proper identification, however some financial institutions do allow you to designate a beneficiary online. It’s also possible to name more than one beneficiary on your accounts.