{"id":287038,"date":"2021-08-23T11:16:04","date_gmt":"2021-08-23T16:16:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/content.findlaw-admin.com\/ability-law\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/what-exactly-is-a-contingent-beneficiary.html"},"modified":"2025-09-05T12:13:00","modified_gmt":"2025-09-05T17:13:00","slug":"what-exactly-is-a-contingent-beneficiary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/what-exactly-is-a-contingent-beneficiary.html","title":{"rendered":"What Exactly Is a Contingent Beneficiary?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 fl-sectionWithSidebar fl-container fl-flex fl-flex-wrap fl-gap30\">\n<div class=\"fl-page-articles fl-section-main fl-section-main-full-width\"><h1 class=\"fl-no-margin-top\">What Exactly Is a Contingent Beneficiary?<\/h1>\n\n<section class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline\">\n    <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-content\">\n                    By <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/oni-harton-j-d\/\">Oni Harton, J.D.<\/a> | Legally reviewed by <a\n                href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/aisha-success-esq\/\">Aisha Success, Esq.<\/a>\n                | Last updated\n        <time>\n                            September 05, 2025\n                    <\/time>\n    <\/div>\n\n    \n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-legally-reviewed\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Legally Reviewed\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>This article has been written and reviewed for legal accuracy, clarity, and style by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team.html\">FindLaw\u2019s team of legal writers and attorneys<\/a> and in accordance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/company-history\/editorial-policy.html\">our editorial standards<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n\n    <details class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle fl-gutenberg-byline-fast-checked\">\n        <summary>\n            <i class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n            Fact-Checked\n        <\/summary>\n\n        <div class=\"fl-gutenberg-byline-toggle-content\">\n            <p><em>The last updated date refers to the last time this article was reviewed by FindLaw or one of our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/company\/our-team\/contributing-authors.html\">contributing authors<\/a>. We make every effort to keep our articles updated. For information regarding a specific legal issue affecting you, please <a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/?fli=bylinelink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">contact an attorney in your area<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n        <\/div>\n    <\/details>\n<\/section>\n\n\n    <div class=\"fl-callout-text article-blockquote\">\n        <p>A contingent beneficiary is someone\u00a0you choose as a backup recipient of your life insurance policy or inheritance. If your primary beneficiary dies or cannot receive the benefits, the benefits go to your contingent beneficiary. The\u00a0contingent beneficiary\u00a0is sometimes referred to as the secondary beneficiary.<\/p>\n\n    <\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Updating your beneficiary designations is an essential part of a comprehensive estate plan. When you fail to name beneficiaries, you can complicate the probate process. A probate court may need to get involved to distribute assets if you don&#8217;t name any beneficiaries.<\/p>\n<h2>Key Takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>A contingent beneficiary is a backup or alternate beneficiary. They receive\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/wills\/inheritance-law-and-your-rights.html\">benefits from an inheritance<\/a>\u00a0or a life insurance policy if the primary beneficiary dies before you, cannot be found, or disclaims the asset.<\/li>\n<li>Contingent beneficiaries are beneficiaries who only receive benefits under certain conditions.<\/li>\n<li>You can name several primary beneficiaries and contingent beneficiaries.<\/li>\n<li>You may need to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/trusts\/setting-up-a-trust.html\">set up a trust<\/a>\u00a0if you want your minor children to be beneficiaries.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Understanding Contingent Beneficiaries<\/h2>\n<p>A beneficiary is the person you want to receive your inheritance or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/dictionary.findlaw.com\/definition\/death-benefit.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">death benefits<\/a>. Your primary beneficiary is the first person you wish to receive your death benefits. You can name primary and contingent beneficiaries. Deciding on your beneficiaries is an important part of your estate plan. People or entities (i.e., charities, nonprofits, trusts, etc.) can be designated beneficiaries.<\/p>\n<h2>Primary Beneficiaries Versus Contingent Beneficiaries<\/h2>\n<p>There are different types of beneficiaries in estate planning documents. A primary beneficiary is the first person or entity you want to receive your assets upon your death. They stand first in line to receive the proceeds. These can come from a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/wills.html\">last will and testament<\/a>, a life insurance policy, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/trusts.html\">trust<\/a>, or an asset.<\/p>\n<p>A contingent beneficiary refers to someone who will receive benefits in certain circumstances. Whether you choose to put conditions on your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/estate-planning-basics.html\">estate<\/a>\u00a0depends on your circumstances.<\/p>\n<h2>The Rights of Primary and Contingent Beneficiaries<\/h2>\n<p>During your lifetime, beneficiaries do not have any legal rights to your assets. While alive, you are free to change beneficiary designations as you see fit. Irrevocable beneficiaries named on a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/consumer\/insurance\/life-insurance.html\">life insurance policy<\/a>\u00a0are an exception. The policyholder needs the irrevocable beneficiaries&#8217; consent to make any changes.<\/p>\n<h3>Primary Beneficiaries<\/h3>\n<p>Your primary\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/estate-planning-help\/what-is-a-beneficiary--a-simple-explanation.html\">beneficiaries<\/a>\u00a0are first in line to receive your inheritance. They are the people or entities to whom you choose to leave your estate. You may name multiple primary beneficiaries. You must decide what benefits each will receive.<\/p>\n<p>Primary beneficiaries must receive the proper disbursement from the decedent&#8217;s estate. If they do not, they can compel appropriate payments after your death.<\/p>\n<h3>Contingent Beneficiaries<\/h3>\n<p>A contingent beneficiary has more limited rights than a primary beneficiary. The contingent beneficiary only has a legal right to assets if the primary beneficiary does not claim them. The primary beneficiary may be unavailable or disclaim the assets.<\/p>\n<p>There are special considerations when naming beneficiaries of a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/socialsecurity\/retirement-planning\/how-to-plan-for-retirement-faq.html\">qualified retirement account<\/a>. Qualified retirement accounts are accounts that receive special federal tax treatment. These include\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/employment\/wages-and-benefits\/a-look-at-401-k-plans-for-employees.html\">401(k)s<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/socialsecurity\/retirement-planning\/ira-plan-faq.html\">Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)<\/a>. Naming primary and contingent beneficiaries on your retirement accounts is wise. This way, if you were to die before using them, your retirement plan could benefit your loved ones.<\/p>\n<h3>Spousal Beneficiaries<\/h3>\n<p>Spousal beneficiaries of retirement accounts have special rights under federal law. Surviving spouses may have the right to roll over inherited retirement accounts. The surviving spouse may roll over funds into their retirement account. Doing this can provide\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/estate-tax-laws.html\">tax benefits<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h3>Non-Spousal Beneficiaries<\/h3>\n<p>The law is different for non-spousal beneficiaries. They must take distributions for the entire inherited account value within ten years. This is part of a 2019 change in the law called the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.dol.gov\/agencies\/ebsa\/laws-and-regulations\/laws\/secure-act\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">SECURE Act<\/a>. Seek legal advice from an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/estate-planning\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">estate planning attorney<\/a>\u00a0if you plan to leave a retirement account to a non-spouse.<\/p>\n<h2>Why Name Contingent Beneficiaries?<\/h2>\n<p>When making your estate plan, many \u201cwhat-if&#8221; scenarios might go through your mind. What if you get married, divorced, have more children, and so on? We all know that life comes with surprises. With contingent beneficiaries, you create a backup plan for those scenarios.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes people name entities rather than natural people as their contingent beneficiaries. They might name a charitable organization, a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/smallbusiness\/incorporation-and-legal-structures\/non-profit-organizations.html\">nonprofit organization<\/a>, or a trust. Choosing a charity as a contingent beneficiary can simplify your estate plan. It can prevent strife among your loved ones.<\/p>\n<p>Take, for example, a situation where your primary beneficiary is your spouse. You make a charity a contingent beneficiary. When you give to a charity, family members have no reason to be at odds with each other.<\/p>\n<p>Sometimes the best plan is to name a trust as your contingent beneficiary. This can be a good way of creating a financial security net for your loved ones, especially your minor children.<\/p>\n<h2>Minor Children as Beneficiaries<\/h2>\n<p>Unlike adults, children cannot directly receive life insurance payouts or large inheritances. Benefits could go to their legal guardian until the child reaches legal age. Or it could go into a special account like a conservatorship account until the child reaches the age of majority.<\/p>\n<p>You may want to set up a trust to ensure minor children benefit from the funds shortly after your death. If you already have a\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/trusts\/living-trust-information.html\">living trust<\/a>, you can list the trust as the contingent beneficiary of your life insurance policy or will. You should ensure that the trust lists your children as the trust&#8217;s beneficiaries. You will also need to choose a reliable trustee.<\/p>\n<h2>Naming Multiple Primary or Contingent Beneficiaries<\/h2>\n<p>In some situations, naming multiple primary or contingent beneficiaries might make sense. You should include those who depend on you for financial support.<\/p>\n<p>For example, you might name your spouse and adult children as primary beneficiaries. This way, they both receive life insurance proceeds at your death. You need to state the percentage of the death benefit for each primary beneficiary. The total should add up to 100 percent.<\/p>\n<p>You should still choose a contingent beneficiary even if you name primary beneficiaries. They will receive the proceeds if none of your primary beneficiaries can. You may name more than one contingent beneficiary, too. Your\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/life-insurance-options.html\">life insurance<\/a>\u00a0company will require you to specify each beneficiary&#8217;s percentage of the proceeds.<\/p>\n<p>In the case of life insurance, if the primary beneficiary is available and willing to receive the death benefit, it will go to them. But if the primary life insurance beneficiary is unavailable, the benefit will go to the contingent beneficiary. If the contingent beneficiary is unavailable, too, the proceeds go to your estate.<\/p>\n<p>They will then be subject to\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/probate.html\">probate<\/a>. This means your heirs may undergo a lengthy process to receive the funds. To prevent this, consider naming multiple contingent beneficiaries. Or you could name tertiary beneficiaries. Tertiary beneficiaries are the third to receive an inheritance or life insurance proceeds. They would only receive proceeds if the primary and contingent beneficiaries cannot.<\/p>\n<p>Suppose you do not have a will and do not name any beneficiaries, or your primary beneficiary fails. In that case, state law determines who will receive your assets. The laws of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/resources\/estate-planning\/die-without-estate-plan.html\">intestacy<\/a>\u00a0would apply. The rules of\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate\/intestate-succession-laws-by-state.html\">intestate succession<\/a>\u00a0under your state law control who will receive the proceeds.<\/p>\n<h2>How Often Should You Review Beneficiary Designations?<\/h2>\n<p>Life has a way of changing quickly. Significant life changes can impact your beneficiary designations. It&#8217;s prudent to review your beneficiaries regularly. Make sure your selections are current.<\/p>\n<p>A good practice would be to check your beneficiary designations about once a year. You should also review your designations if any of the following life events occur:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Marriage<\/li>\n<li>Divorce<\/li>\n<li>The birth or\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/family\/adoption.html\">adoption<\/a>\u00a0of children or grandchildren<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Keeping your beneficiary selections current may prevent conflicts among your loved ones. Knowing you have a solid\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/estate\/planning-an-estate.html\">plan for their future<\/a>\u00a0can also help give you and your family peace of mind.<\/p>\n<h2>How an Attorney Can Help<\/h2>\n<p>As you plan your estate, you may need to name contingent beneficiaries, set up a trust, or consider tax issues. If you have any questions on these topics, an\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/lawyers.findlaw.com\/estate-planning\/?fli=dcta\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">estate planning attorney<\/a>\u00a0can help you plan for the future.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"was-this-helpful\">\n    <div\n            class=\"was-this-helpful__question-container\"\n            aria-labelledby=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n            role=\"group\"\n    >\n        <span\n                id=\"was-this-helpful__question\"\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__question fl-text-lg-bold\"\n        >Was this helpful?<\/span>\n        <button\n                class=\"was-this-helpful__button fl-text-sm\"\n                aria-label=\"Yes\"\n                value=\"yes\"\n        >\n            <span class=\"was-this-helpful__button-text fl-text-bold\">Yes<\/span>\n            <i class=\"was-this-helpful__button-icon\">\n                <svg width=\"22\" height=\"22\" viewBox=\"0 0 22 22\" fill=\"none\" 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<span class=\"fl-button-content\">Submit<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-angle-right medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n                <button\n                    class=\"was-this-helpful__feedback-button was-this-helpful__feedback-button--cancel fl-button primary disabled\"\n                    type=\"reset\"\n                >\n                    <span class=\"fl-button-content\">Cancel<\/span>\n                    <i\n                        class=\"fa fa-times-circle medium\"\n                        aria-hidden=\"true\"\n                    ><\/i>\n                <\/button>\n            <\/div>\n        <\/form>\n    <\/div>\n    <div class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message\" role=\"status\">\n        <i class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-icon fa fa-check\"><\/i>\n        <p class=\"was-this-helpful__thank-you-message-text\" aria-live=\"polite\"><\/p>\n    <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"fl-section-sidebar\"><div class=\"fl-editors-summary\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary\">\n    \n    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content\">\n                    <h2>Can I Solve This on My Own or Do I Need an Attorney?<\/h2>\n                <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-main\">\n            \n        <\/div>\n        <ul class=\"fl-list-style-none\">\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/www.findlaw.com\/forms\/estate-planning.html?fli=diyns\">DIY is possible<\/a> in some simple cases\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    Complex estate planning situations usually require a lawyer\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    A lawyer can reduce the chances of a family dispute\n\n                <\/li>\n                            <li data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-item\">\n                    <i class=\"fa fa-check medium fl-editors-summary-content-item-icon\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>\n                    You can always have an attorney review your forms\n\n                <\/li>\n                    <\/ul>\n                    <div class=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\" data-testid=\"fl-editors-summary-content-description\">\n                <p>Get tailored advice and ask your legal questions. 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