Pension, Retirement, and Investment Accounts
What if I was not named as beneficiary on their retirement account?
Short answer
As a surviving spouse, you generally have legal protections. Federal law (ERISA) requires most employer-sponsored retirement plans to name the spouse as beneficiary unless the spouse signed a written waiver. If someone else was named without your written consent, you may have…
What this usually means
As a surviving spouse, you generally have legal protections. Federal law (ERISA) requires most employer-sponsored retirement plans to name the spouse as beneficiary unless the spouse signed a written waiver. If someone else was named without your written consent, you may have a legal claim. Consult an ERISA attorney.
What to do next
- Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
- Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
- Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
- Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.