---
title: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-120. Trusts as beneficiaries.
collection: code
id: 53-12-120
cite_as: O.C.G.A. § 53-12-120 (2025)
canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-120
md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-120.md
text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12-120/text
source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/api/document/docs/default-source/joint-features-document-library/t52-t53-(v40)-2021-pdf.pdf?sfvrsn=d23ba203_0#page=815
date: 2025
status: active
corpus_version: 2025-supplement-89aa39ab3c68
license: CC0-1.0
publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice.
up: https://georgiacommons.org/code/53-12.md
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index: https://georgiacommons.org/code/index.md
version: the only printed version
in_force: true
current_through: Including Acts of the 2025 Regular Session of the General Assembly
heading_path: WILLS, TRUSTS, AND ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES / TRUSTS / TESTAMENTARY ADDITIONS TO TRUSTS / TRUSTS AS BENEFICIARIES
---

# O.C.G.A. § 53-12-120. Trusts as beneficiaries.

A trust under a testator’s will may be designated as the beneficiary of the testator’s qualified retirement plan, individual retirement account, other retirement plan, or life insurance policies on the life of the testator so long as the testator’s will is admitted to probate in solemn form, whether the designation occurs before or after the execution of the will. Unless the beneficiary designation provides otherwise, the designation of a trust under a will as beneficiary shall not be treated as the designation of the testator’s estate as beneficiary nor shall such property, once delivered to the trustee under the testator’s will, be deemed to be part of the testator’s estate.

## History

Code 1981, § 53-12-120, enacted by Ga. L. 2010, p. 579, § 1/SB 131.

## Law Reviews

For article, ‘‘The Georgia Trust Act,’’ see 28 Ga. St. B.J. 95 (1991).