Can you be someone's beneficiary without being married?
Asked by: Felicita Littel | Last update: January 18, 2026Score: 4.1/5 (23 votes)
Do you have to be married to be someone's beneficiary?
If you're not married you can choose anyone to be your beneficiary.
Who is your beneficiary if you are single?
If you are unmarried, consider choosing a close family member like a parent, sibling, or child. Consider your potential beneficiary's needs. An easy way to select a beneficiary is to also take into consideration your potential inheritor's needs.
Can I list my girlfriend as a beneficiary?
Sure. You can name anyone you want as your beneficiary. It doesn't even have to be a person eg, you could name a charity or your business to receive the money after your death.
Can you name a non-spouse as beneficiary?
In most cases, the account holder can name a beneficiary, whether that's a child, another relative, or someone else other than their spouse.
My Spouse Isn't My Beneficiary?!
Who is an eligible non-spouse beneficiary?
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries (that are not the spouse) include: Minor children of the original account holder (decedent) Those who are chronically ill. Those who are permanently disabled.
What is the 10 year rule?
For defined contribution plan participants, or IRA owners, who die after December 31, 2019, (with a delayed effective date for certain collectively bargained plans), the SECURE Act requires the entire balance of the participant's account be distributed within ten years.
Does marriage override a beneficiary?
Key takeaways
A life insurance beneficiary designation usually overrides a current spouse or a will. Spouses in community property states must split the death benefit with the named beneficiary. Review (and update) your beneficiaries any time your situation changes.
Can I choose a beneficiary other than my spouse?
Many people choose the following beneficiaries:
A spouse or long-term partner. Adult children. Other family members or close friends. A trust - a legal entity that manages an inheritance on behalf of your heirs and pays out the money over time, which might be an option if you want minor children to receive assets.
Can anyone be listed as a beneficiary?
You can name multiple contingent beneficiaries and specify different percentages for each. Like primary beneficiaries, they can be individuals, charities, trusts, or your estate. They have no rights to the assets while primary beneficiaries are still living and eligible to inherit.
Can your beneficiary be anyone?
Basic Facts About Life Insurance Beneficiaries
A person also need not be related to the insured to be named as a beneficiary; California law allows policyholders to designate anyone they want to be a beneficiary.
Can a spouse override a beneficiary on a bank account?
While a spouse doesn't override a designated beneficiary on a bank account, they may be entitled to a portion of the assets in a payable-on-death bank account if those assets are community property.
Who is best to list as a beneficiary?
A lot of people name a close relative—like a spouse, brother or sister, or child—as a beneficiary. You can also choose a more distant relative or a friend. If you want to designate a friend as your beneficiary, be sure to check with your insurance company or directly with your state.
What can override a life insurance beneficiary?
A will cannot override a beneficiary designation because the policy is a contract between the person who purchases it and the issuer. The only way anyone can override a beneficiary other than the policyholder is if a court determines there's a conflict between named beneficiaries and state laws.
Who can be the beneficiary of a single person?
For single individuals, it is common to choose their parents or siblings. You may also want to consider any other dependents, such as children, who may need financial support after your passing. If you have a business partner or charity that you support, you may want to designate them as your beneficiary.
Does a 401k go to a spouse or beneficiary?
To designate more than 50% to any other beneficiary, your spouse may need to consent who you designate as beneficiaries. If you do not designate a beneficiary, your spouse automatically inherits your 401(k) upon your death.
Who should be my beneficiary if I'm not married?
If you are unmarried, consider choosing a close family member like a parent, sibling, cousin, or child. 2. You may want to consider your potential beneficiary's needs. An easy way to select a beneficiary is to also take into consideration your potential inheritor's needs.
What states require spousal consent?
It depends on your state of residence. If you reside in a “community property state” (Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin), you need your spouse's consent to designate any primary beneficiary other than your spouse. This need arises from state property law.
Can I put my girlfriend down as a beneficiary?
Can anyone be named as a beneficiary? Your beneficiary can be a person, a charity, a trust, or your estate. Almost any person can be named as a beneficiary, although your state of residence or the provider of your benefits may restrict who you can name as a beneficiary.
Can a non spouse be a beneficiary?
Inherited 401(k)s are retirement accounts that are passed down to beneficiaries after the account holder's death. These accounts can be inherited by spouses, non-spouses or other designated beneficiaries, each facing different rules and options for managing the inherited funds.
What overrides beneficiaries?
This means that an executor can override a beneficiary's wishes if those wishes contradict the expressed terms of the will, do not comply with applicable laws, and the executor acts in the best interest of the estate and its beneficiaries.
Can you exclude spouse from inheritance?
In California, you cannot completely disinherit your spouse without their consent unless there are legal grounds such as a valid prenuptial agreement explicitly waiving inheritance rights or a divorce decree.
Who is an eligible designated beneficiary?
An eligible designated beneficiary (EDB) must be an individual, and not a nonperson entity such as a trust, an estate, or a charity (which would be not designated beneficiaries). There are five categories of individuals included in the EDB classification: The owner's surviving spouse. The owner's child who is under 18.
What is the biggest RMD mistake?
Not taking your RMDs as scheduled
The biggest mistake you can make is not taking your RMDs as you're supposed to. Typically, you must take your RMDs by Dec. 31, but you have until April 1 of the following year to take your first RMD. So, if you turned 73 in 2024, you have until April 1, 2025, to make your 2024 RMD.
Can I withdraw all the money from an inherited IRA?
Non-spouse designated beneficiaries must roll the assets over to an inherited IRA and most must withdraw all the money within 10 years, as noted above. There are some exceptions to the 10-year rule for non-spouse Eligible Designated Beneficiaries (EDBs):