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The short answer
Beneficiary designations on retirement accounts, life insurance, and payable-on-death accounts beat the will. The audit below walks every account type and catches the classics: the ex-spouse still named on the 401(k), the dead parent on an old policy, the minor child named directly. Run it again after every marriage, divorce, birth, and death.
Reviewed August 2026
Why the form beats the will →Parents: who inherits for the kids →
Before you start
A valid beneficiary designation commonly controls the listed asset instead of a conflicting will, subject to the account, facts, and governing law. Review the accounts you add and flag possible conflicts. Review each designation for people you no longer intend to name and for family changes that happened after the form was completed. Record what needs attention. Review it again after a marriage, divorce, birth, death, or job change.
See the complete planning path →Premium Tool
For many retirement and insurance accounts, a valid beneficiary designation generally controls the listed asset instead of conflicting will instructions. Add the accounts you want to review, answer five questions, and leave with a fix list. Account terms, facts, and governing law can create exceptions. Once you have Premium, your work saves in this browser first and syncs to your account.
A planning checklist, not legal or tax advice. Beneficiary rules vary by state and plan.