Free printable
Beneficiary Review Worksheet (Large Print)
By Jason Su · Updated October 28, 2026
The standard Beneficiary Review Worksheet finds the accounts whose beneficiary line is empty or out of date. This large-print version gives each account its own row and keeps the two columns that decide where the money goes: who is named, and who the backup is.
What changed from the standard sheet
- One account per row, with a tall box to write in.
- The two columns that matter are kept. The beneficiary and the contingent (backup) are the only two that decide who receives the money.
- A reminder to fill the backup line, because a form with only a primary name is a form that can fail.
Making it bigger still
- Set the print scale to 125% in your browser’s print dialog (Chrome and Edge: More settings → Scale).
- Print on legal paper if you have it — same layout, more room.
Write in black ink. Fill the beneficiary column for every account; an empty box there is the one that costs the most.
The sheet
Accounts that pay on a form
| Account or policy | Beneficiary named | Contingent (backup) |
|---|---|---|
| Life insurance | ||
| Retirement account (401(k) or IRA) | ||
| Bank account (payable on death) | ||
| Pension or annuity | ||
| Brokerage account (transfer on death) | ||
Accounts that follow the will
| Account or property | Covered by the will or a trust? |
|---|---|
How to use it
- Start with the accounts that pay out, not the folder. Insurance, retirement accounts, and any account set up as payable or transferable on death.
- Open each one and read the beneficiary line, rather than trusting memory. People are usually wrong about who they named.
- Fill in the contingent line wherever there is one. A form with only a primary name is a form that can fail.
- Write down anything empty or out of date, then make the change using the standard Beneficiary Review Worksheet as your guide.
Frequently asked
Does a beneficiary form really beat the will?
Generally yes, for accounts that have one. The form is read before the will is, so an old form can quietly undo a careful will.
What counts as out of date?
An ex-spouse who was never removed, a parent who has passed, a child whose name changed. The form still says what it says until someone updates it.
How often should I redo this?
Once a year, plus any time a marriage, divorce, birth, or passing changes who should receive what.
Next step
Open one policy today and read the beneficiary line out loud. That single minute tells you whether the rest of this sheet is a formality or an afternoon’s work, and the standard Beneficiary Review Worksheet tells you what to do about anything you find.
This is a blank record sheet, not legal or financial advice. Beneficiary rules differ by account type and by state and change over time — confirm the details with the provider and talk with a licensed professional about your situation.