An alternate beneficiary is someone you choose to receive a beneficiary's share if that beneficiary can't take it — for example, if they pass away before you.
On EveryWill, this happens in the Estate & Gifts step, on the 'Choose alternates' page/s, after you've divided your residuary estate. The Will created by our platform provides that a beneficiary needs to survive you by 30 days to receive their share; if they don't, their share goes to the alternate you've chosen.
For each beneficiary, you can choose how their share would pass:
To that beneficiary's descendants — their children, and if a child has also passed away, that child's children, and so on.
Split among your other residuary beneficiaries.
To specific alternates you name yourself.
The Will also provides a backup if your chosen alternate can't take the share either: in that case, the share is generally split proportionately among your other residuary beneficiaries. There's one exception — if the alternate is your child and they have surviving descendants of their own, the share passes to those descendants instead (an arrangement known as "per stirpes," where a share flows down a family line).
If you'd like different arrangements, or you have questions about how shares would pass in your family's situation, you may wish to consult an estate planning attorney in your state.
For more information about our free Will-writing platform, visit our Help Center.
EveryWill is not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice. This article is provided for educational purposes only; it is not, and should not be taken as, legal, tax, or financial advice. Laws vary by state and change over time, and this article is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney licensed in your state who knows your circumstances. Reading this article does not create an attorney-client relationship with EveryWill. Use of EveryWill’s platform and services is subject to its Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.