Suggested Search
Your guide to binding death benefit nominations
Important for your loved ones
The topic of death isn’t always easy to think about. However, planning ahead can make a big difference for your partner or family.
Even if you leave a will, your super isn’t automatically included. If you want your money to go to someone in particular, be sure to make a written death benefit nomination.
Your written nomination will let us know which of your loved ones should receive your super. For example your husband, wife, partner or children. To be eligible, they must be your dependents.
Alternatively, you can nominate your legal personal representative to receive your super lump sum; which will then form part of your estate and be distributed to your beneficiaries.
- You can nominate multiple beneficiaries (unlimited).
- The person nominated will receive your remaining superannuation or pension account balance – either as a lump sum or an income stream.
- The person/s you nominate must be your dependant or legal personal representative.
- Under super law, your legal personal representative and certain dependants (e.g. most adult children) can only receive super death benefits as a lump sum.
- You can only nominate one reversionary beneficiary.
- The person nominated will receive your remaining pension account balance as a continuation of your income stream.
- The person you nominate must be your dependant, and be eligible under super law to receive your death benefit as an income stream. Certain dependants (e.g. most adult children) are not eligible to receive a death benefit as an income stream.
Who is my legal personal representative?
This means the executor of your will, or if you haven’t made a valid will – the administrator of your estate (it doesn’t necessarily mean your lawyer). This executor or administrator will hold your estate as a trustee, before distributing it to your beneficiaries.
Our death benefit nomination forms don’t require the name of your legal personal representative. Simply tell us whether you want your money to be directed to your legal representative after your death.
What happens after my death?
Colonial First State (as the trustee) must follow your written nomination; provided any beneficiaries are dependants at the time of your death (or otherwise your legal personal representative).
Your total super balance will be included, along with any life insurance you might have had in your fund.
What if I don’t make any nomination?
Your death benefit will be paid to your legal personal representative (who is the executor of your will or administrator of your estate, if you have no will) – if at the time of your death, you haven’t nominated anyone.
Can a death benefit nomination expire?
Our death benefit nominations don’t expire – so it remains valid until you revoke or make a new one.
Next Steps
Find an adviser
Call us or talk to an adviser about your retirement needs today.
Unleash in ways you never thought possible
Get in touch
Get in touch with us online or call us
Standard Operating Hours
8:30am to 6pm (Sydney time)
Holiday Period
CLOSED public holidays (25 to 26 Dec & 1 Jan)
23 Dec 2024 to 3 Jan 2025, 9am to 3pm (Sydney time)
6 to 10 Jan 2025, 8:30am to 5pm (Sydney time)
Find a financial adviser
Use our tool to find professional financial advice,
local to you.
Download mobile app
Track your balance and see your
transactions history from anywhere.
Avanteos Investments Limited ABN 20 096 259 979, AFSL 245531 (AIL) is the trustee of the Colonial First State FirstChoice Superannuation Trust ABN 26 458 298 557 and issuer of FirstChoice range of super and pension products. Colonial First State Investments Limited ABN 98 002 348 352, AFSL 232468 (CFSIL) is the responsible entity and issuer of products made available under FirstChoice Investments and FirstChoice Wholesale Investments.
Information on this webpage is provided by AIL and CFSIL. It may include general advice but does not consider your individual objectives, financial situation, needs or tax circumstances. You can find the target market determinations (TMD) for our financial products at https://www.cfs.com.au/tmd which include a description of who a financial product might suit. You should read the relevant Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and Financial Services Guide (FSG) carefully, assess whether the information is appropriate for you, and consider talking to a financial adviser before making an investment decision. You can get the PDS and FSG at www.cfs.com.au or by calling us on 13 13 36.