Refresh April 04, 2025 11:58 AM ET
 Refresh April 04, 2025 11:58 AM ET

Changing registration on accounts usually requires submitting forms and other legal documentation. Find out exactly what you need to do below.

This page also covers naming different trustees for trust accounts, and different agents for business and investment club accounts.
Brokerage Account Application
When you need to change the registration on your E*TRADE Securities brokerage account, you can begin the process by getting the application you need online.
  1. U.S. customers can go to the Forms & Applications page and download a Registration Change for Complete Investment Account application. You will be able to use this application to change the registration on your account to an individual, joint or a custodial account. The form will have a complete checklist of all of the required documents which need to be sent in.
  2. Complete the application, include your current account number.
  3. Have all new owners sign the application.
  4. If an account holder is being removed, we'll need a notarized form signed by all parties that authorizes us to make the change. See page 10 of the Registration Change for Complete Investment Account application for the Notary Signature to Remove Party form.
  5. If a primary account holder is being removed/changed, a new account will need to be opened. We'll need authorization to move the assets from the current account to the new account. See page 10 of the Registration Change for Complete Investment Account application
  6. Mail the completed application, and if applicable, the Notary Signature to Remove Party form and compliance letter to us at:
    7. By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes:
  • If you would like to request a new account number and logon information, please be sure to include this in the notarized Letter of Instruction. This will happen automatically if there is a change to the primary Social Security number listed on the account.
  • If you are changing the registration of a custodial account to an individual account because the child has reached the age of majority, please include a copy of the child's birth certificate, copy of a driver's license (or other state government-issued photo ID), or passport.
  • If you are changing the registration of a joint account due to divorce, please include a copy of your divorce decree with your new account application and Letter of Instruction.
  • Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Business Account Application
When you need to change the registration on your E*TRADE Securities brokerage account, you can begin the process by getting the application you need online.
  1. Go to the Forms & Applications page and download a Business Account application. This application can be used to change your registration from a personal to a business account, or joint to a business account or to change agents on a current E*TRADE Business account. Note: After you submit your request, we will need to close your current account and open a business account.
  2. Complete the application, include your current account number, and write "Registration Change" at the top of the application above Section 1.
  3. Have all new owners sign the application.
  4. Write a notarized Letter of Instruction stating the current registration and describe who is being added to or removed from the account. Include a statement acknowledging you are aware that adding or removing account holders changes the registration, what the registration was, and what you want changed.
  5. Have the current owner(s) sign the letter. If you prefer, you may instead submit a copy of the corporate resolution (or meeting minutes) detailing the change in authorized persons.
  6. If any of the account holders' employer is a broker/dealer, be sure to submit a compliance letter, on company letterhead, signed by a compliance officer.
  7. If the business is a foreign institution, you will also need to send us a Form W-8BEN-E for each account holder
  8. Mail the completed application, Letter of Instruction/notarized Letter of Instruction, and if applicable, the compliance letter and Form W-8BEN-E to us at:**
    9. By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes:
  • If you are changing an account to a business account, or if the Taxpayer Identification/Social Security number on your account will change, we will open a new account with the new registration. Please indicate in your notarized Letter of Instruction that all funds and securities should be moved to the new account.
  • Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Trust or Conservatorship Application
When you need to change the registration on your E*TRADE Securities brokerage account, you can begin the process by getting the application you need online.
  1. Go to the Forms & Applications page and download a Trust or Conservatorship Account application. This application can be used to change your registration from a personal non-retirement to a trust account, a joint to a trust account, or to change trustees on a current E*TRADE trust account.
  2. Complete the application, include your current account number, and write "Registration Change" at the top of the application above Section 1.
  3. Have all trustees sign the application.
  4. Write a Letter of Instruction stating the current registration and the new registration requested. If the trustee(s) will be different than the current account holder(s), then this Letter of Instruction will need to be notarized. If an existing account holder is being removed, a statement relinquishing ownership must be included in the notarized letter.
  5. Have all interested parties sign the Letter of Instruction/notarized Letter of Instruction.
  6. If the trustee(s) does not include the current account holder(s), the first and signature pages of the trust agreement, and the portion of the agreement that denotes the successor trustee information, will also be required.
  7. Mail the completed application, Letter of Instruction/notarized Letter of Instruction, and Trust documents to us at:
    8. By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes:
  • If there is no change in Taxpayer Identification Number (TIN), you will retain the existing account number and logon information. If the TIN is changing, a new account will be established, creating a new account number and logon information.
  • If options' trading is desired on your trust account, be sure to provide a new Options Upgrade Application as well as a copy of the Trust documents expressly allowing such strategies or Trustee Certification of Trustee Powers (TCTP) form.
  • Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Change the trustee on a trust account
  1. Go to the Forms & Applications page, and download a trust account application.
  2. Write "Registration Change" and your current account number at the top of the application above Section 1. Have all account holders (authorized trustee(s)) complete the application.
  3. Prepare a notarized Letter of Instruction, signed by the original and the new trustees, requesting the change in registration. This letter must state the original registration and the new registration requested.
  4. The first and signature pages of the trust agreement, along with the portion of the agreement that denotes the successor trustee information will be required as well.
  5. Send the completed application, notarized Letter of Instruction, and trust documents to us at:
    By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes:
  • If any of the account holders' employer is a broker/dealer, be sure to submit a compliance letter, on employer letterhead and signed by a compliance officer, with the application.
  • If the change being requested changes the Taxpayer Identification Number of the trust, a new account must be opened, creating a new account number and username.
  • Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.
Please click here for trustee changes due to death.

Back to top

Change the registration type on a joint account
When you need to change the registration type on your E*TRADE Securities brokerage account between joint-rights-of-survivorship, tenants-in-common, and community property, here's what to do.
  1. Complete the Registration Change for Complete Investment Account form. It should be completed and signed by all account holders, with the new joint account type selected in section 1.
  2. Send the form to us at:
    By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes: Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Change beneficiaries
Beneficiaries may be updated on E*TRADE Securities Individual, Joint with Rights of Survivorship (JTWROS), IRA, Money Purchase Plan, Profit Sharing Plan, Individual 401(k) Plan, and Roth Individual 401(k) Plan account types. The process to update beneficiaries and allowable beneficiary types vary by account type.

IRA Account Types

Note:
  • IRA account holders who are married AND live in a community property state or territory (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI, GU, or PR) AND who wish to designate someone other than their spouse as 100% primary beneficiary are ineligible to use the online update process.
  • Beneficiaries on IRA accounts may be individuals, trusts, or charities.
Online Request
  1. Go to www.etrade.com/benechange.
  2. View, add, edit, or delete beneficiaries.
  3. Save any updates.
  4. You will receive a confirmation to your smart alert inbox after saving any changes.
Paper Request
  1. Download the Designation of Beneficiary - IRA form to change or designate a beneficiary.
  2. Complete and sign the form.
  3. Mail the form to us at one of the addresses specified on the form.
  4. Allow 1-2 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.
Money Purchase Plan, Profit Sharing Plan, Individual 401(k) Plan, and Roth Individual 401(k) Plan Account Types

Note:
  • Beneficiaries on Money Purchase Plans, Profit Sharing Plans, Individual 401(k) Plans, and Roth Individual 401(k) plans may be individuals, trusts, or charities.
  • Notarized Spousal Waivers are required if the account holder is married.
  1. Download the Designation of Beneficiary – Qualified Plan form to change or designate a beneficiary.
  2. Complete and sign the form.
  3. Fax, upload, or mail the form to us at one of the addresses specified on the form.
  4. Allow 1-2 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.
Individual or Joint with Rights of Survivorship Account Types

Note:
  • Individual account holders who are married AND live in a community property state (AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, WI, GU or PR) AND wish to designate someone other than their spouse as 100% primary beneficiary are ineligible to use the online update process.
  • Beneficiaries on Individual and/or Joint with Rights of Survivorship accounts may be individuals, trusts, or charities.
  • Joint with Rights of Survivorship accounts require the consent of both account owners to designate a beneficiary.
Online Request
  1. Go to www.etrade.com/benechange.
  2. View, add, edit, or delete beneficiaries.
  3. Save any updates.
  4. You will receive a confirmation to your Smart Alert inbox after saving any changes.
Paper Request
  1. Download the Designation of Beneficiary - Transfer on Death form to change or designate a beneficiary.
  2. Complete and sign the form. Joint with Right of Survivorship accounts require the signature of both account owners.
  3. Fax, upload, or mail the form to us at one of the addresses located on page one of this form.
  4. Allow 1-2 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Change the authorized signer/agent on a business account
  1. Go to the Forms & Applications page, and download a business account application.
  2. Write "Registration Change" and your current account number at the top of the application above Section 1. Have all authorized agents complete and sign the application.
  3. Prepare an original notarized Letter of Instruction with the names and signatures of all previous, current, and new authorized agents – i.e., agents being added, removed, or retained. If you prefer, you may instead submit a copy of the corporate resolution (or meeting minutes) detailing the change in authorized persons.
  4. Send the completed application and notarized Letter of Instruction or resolution/meeting minutes to us at:
    By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
Notes:
  • If the business is a non-U.S. institution, you will also need to send us a Form W-8BEN- E. You may also need to submit an original W-8, copy of a valid passport (or other photo ID) and utility bill for any new agents. These types of registration changes may be subject to additional review by our Compliance department.
  • Note: Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Add or remove an agent from an investment club account
To add an authorized agent (without removing an agent):
  1. Go to the Forms & Applications page, and download the Investment Club application.
  2. Write "Registration Change" and your current account number at the top of the investment club application above Section 1. Have all current authorized agents complete and sign the application.
  3. Provide the Investment Club Agreement completed by all current registered agents, trading-only agents if applicable, and all members.
  4. Prepare a Letter of Instruction, signed by all current authorized agents, requesting the change.
  5. Send the completed applications, Investment Club Agreement, and Letter of Instruction to us at:
    By regular U.S. mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    PO Box 484
    Jersey City, NJ 07303-0484

    By overnight mail
    E*TRADE Securities LLC
    Harborside 2
    200 Hudson Street, Suite 501
    Jersey City, NJ 07311
    1-800-ETRADE-1
When adding an authorized agent and removing a current registered agent, please note the following:

  • The Investment Club application should not include the agent to be removed.
  • The Letter of Instruction will need to be original, notarized, and signed by all registered agents (exclude the agent to be removed).
  • The agent to be removed should be excluded from the Investment Club Agreement.
To remove an agent:
  1. Prepare a notarized Letter of Instruction, original only, signed only by the remaining agents, requesting the change and noting the account number. The notarized letter should include the names of agents being added, removed or retained.
  2. Send your notarized letter to us at the address listed above.
To change member listing:
  1. Prepare a Letter of Instruction, with the account number, signed by all remaining agents, requesting the change.
  2. Provide the Investment Club Agreement completed by all current registered agents, trading-only agents if applicable, and all members.
  3. Send the letter and Investment Club Agreement to us at the address listed above.
Note: Please allow 3-5 business days for processing once all paperwork has been received in good order.

Back to top

Understand what to do in the event of an account holder's death
If a holder, custodian, or trustee of an E*TRADE Securities brokerage account dies, you will need to change the registration on the account, or open a new account completely.

Find out more...

Back to top