Death Benefit Distribution options for non-spouse beneficiary.

[Guest Mike Visse]

A client died December 1999. He was age 45, no spouse, and his father, age 74, is his beneficiary of his 401(k) account. What are the father's options? Can he leave money in 401(k) until 2004? Can he take 20% out of plan per year for five years? Also, since the father is 74, does he need to take out minimum distributions from the son's 401(k) account? Can the father now name a beneficiary of the account if he decides to leave the money in the 401(k) plan for five years?