The following instructions have been enclosed to assist you with the completion of the Beneficiary Designation Form.
Please read these instructions carefully before completing the application.
• Completing this form: It is important that you fully complete the Primary Beneficiary section of this form, even if you are
not making any changes to a Primary Beneficiary (i.e., fully writing out the designation including names and percentages if
applicable). We will not accept wording such as “same” or “no change” in the Primary Beneficiary section or the
Contingent Beneficiary section or forms where the Primary Beneficiary section is left blank. This information is requested
to assist us in identifying and contacting your Beneficiary(ies) in the event of a claim/distribution and ensure benefits are
paid out appropriately. State regulations may require benefits be paid to the State if the Beneficiary cannot be located in
a timely manner.
• Multiple Policies: Complete a separate Beneficiary Designation request for each policy to be changed, unless the Policy
Owner and all information is the same for all policies.
• Corrected Form: A form which has been altered or on which there has been an erasure cannot be accepted unless the
alteration or erasure is initialed by the Policy Owner.
• Authority: Only the Owner(s) of the insurance policy is/are authorized to make changes to the policy.
• Qualified Plans: The Plan Trustee must be the Beneficiary of the policies issued under a Qualified Plan. Personal
Beneficiaries should be filed with the Plan Trustee. The Insured’s estate is the Beneficiary if the plan terminates or a plan
was erroneously designated as Owner and Beneficiary.
• Minor Beneficiaries: Having a Minor Beneficiary can be problematic if the Insured dies before the minor reaches the age
of majority, since a minor cannot accept the Death Benefit. In such a situation, unless State Law makes the parent the
natural guardian of the estate of the minor, or direct distribution to someone acting on behalf of the minor is permitted
by statute, Penn Mutual will hold the Death Benefit, at interest, until either: (a) the minor reaches majority, at which time
we pay the Beneficiary directly; or (b) we are provided with court certified guardianship papers for the minor, at which
time Penn Mutual will pay the guardian. Alternatively, you should consult an attorney with whom you may consider the
following options:
• Name a custodian for the minor under your state’s Uniform Transfer to Minors Act (UTMA). For this option, you
would simply need to use the following wording on a Beneficiary designation: “(minor’s name) c/o (custodian’s
name), custodian under the (state) UTMA.” At death, the custodian will be able to collect the Death Benefit on the
minor’s behalf.
• Provide for the minor in the Insured or Owner’s Last Will and Testament and designate Insured or Owner’s estate as
the Beneficiary of the policy. Penn Mutual will pay the proceeds to the executor of the estate.
• Provide for the minor in a Trust and designate the Trust as the Beneficiary of the policy. Penn Mutual will pay the
death benefit to the Trustee. Penn Mutual requires a copy of the Trust.
• Beneficiaries not specified by name: If Beneficiary(ies) are not specified by name (i.e., all children living), the Company is
authorized to rely on an affidavit from any Beneficiary listed on this form in determining the names of the Beneficiaries at
time of claim. The Company is discharged from all liability upon making settlement based on such affidavit.
• Trust Beneficiaries: If any Trustee fails to make claim for the policy proceeds within 12 months after the company is
notified of the Insured’s death or if the Company receives written evidence satisfactory to it that the Trust is not in effect,
payment shall be made as if the Trust was not named as a Beneficiary. Before making payment to any Trust, the Company
reserves the right to require written evidence satisfactory to it that the Trust is in effect and evidence of the identity of
the Trustee(s) who are qualified to act on behalf of the Trust. The Company shall be fully protected in acting in reliance
upon such evidence. The Company’s responsibility for the payment of proceeds ends with the payment to the Trustee(s);
it has no responsibility regarding any subsequent distribution.
• Dollar Amounts: Specific dollar amounts are generally not permitted. Instead, please designate a percent in the % column.
Percentage totals must equal 100 percent. If you must designate a specific dollar amount, please contact our Home Office
for instructions.
PM6532
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