Pension & Life Insurance Beneficiary Guide
A plain-English kit for England & Wales
Delivered as PDF + editable Word document. Instant download.
Pension & Life Insurance Beneficiary Guide
Your pension and life insurance do not pass through your Will — they are controlled by nomination of beneficiary forms. This guide shows you how to fill them in correctly.
What’s included
- Why pensions and life insurance bypass your Will entirely
- Nomination of beneficiary forms explained — what they do and why they matter
- Guidance for common UK pension schemes: NHS, Teachers, LGPS, NEST, workplace auto-enrolment
- Life insurance nomination walkthrough
- Expression of wishes template for pension trustees
- Checklist: how often to review and update your nominations
Who it's for
- •Anyone with a workplace pension, personal pension, or life insurance policy
- •People who have recently married, divorced, had children, or moved in with a partner
- •Executors who want to understand which assets fall outside the estate
Questions about this kit
If I leave my pension to my partner in my Will, is that enough?+
No — and this is one of the most common estate planning mistakes. Pensions are held in trust by the pension scheme and are distributed at the trustees' discretion, guided by your expression of wishes or nomination form. Your Will has no legal effect over your pension. If you have not updated your nomination form, your pension could go to an ex-partner or be distributed differently to your wishes.
Does this include the actual nomination forms?+
The official nomination forms vary by pension scheme and insurer, so they are not included. This guide explains what information you need, what the forms ask for, and links you to where to find them for common UK schemes. For workplace pensions, your HR department or pension provider can supply the right form.
Self-help template, not legal advice. WillSafe UK is a trading name of WSC Group Ltd. We are not solicitors. Our products are self-help templates for England & Wales. For complex estates, speak to a qualified solicitor. See our full disclaimer.