Banks and other financial institutions don’t automatically ask account holders to designate a beneficiary, so it can be easy to forget or postpone adding a beneficiary until it’s more convenient. But ...

Question: My mother is the trustee of her revocable living trust, with me as the sole beneficiary. The only asset in the trust is my mother’s house. My mother wants to simplify things and record a ...

A variety of financial accounts, including retirement plans and life insurance, allow individuals to designate beneficiaries. Whoever is named on a beneficiary designation form will receive those ...

Time to catch up on some of the questions that readers have sent in. Q: I've read that you can add a payable on death beneficiary to a car title. I've gone to the BMV website but I can't find a form.

Naming a bank account beneficiary ensures your money goes straight to your loved ones without getting tied up in costly, time-consuming probate. Most banks let you do this through a “Payable on Death” ...

Dear Liz: In response to a reader who asked about creating a will, you suggested options for low-cost online resources. That is great! But, I would encourage you to remind readers to designate ...

When Priscilla Presley challenged her late daughter’s will recently, it raised the prospect of a family rift and a messy legal battle over who would guide Elvis’ big estate. But legal experts say ...

A grantee beneficiary is typically named in legal documents like a trust or a transfer-on-death deed. This designation allows the original asset owner (the grantor) to specify who will receive the ...

A Roth IRA doesn’t have required minimum distributions unless it’s inherited. Withdrawal options vary depending on your relation to the deceased. Consult a tax professional before making decisions ...

Because, when the couple was dating in the 1980s, Mr. Rolison had listed Ms. Sjostedt as the sole beneficiary of his retirement account, and then never updated the form to designate a new beneficiary, ...