After you've set up a trust, you need to fund it by transferring assets into it. A trust that doesn’t hold any assets or property isn’t useful, especially as part of an estate plan. There are generally two ways of funding a trust. The trust creator, called the grantor or trustor, can designate the trust as a beneficiary of an asset or they can retitle ownership — this involves changing the owner of an asset from the grantor to the name of the trust. Naming the trust as owner may be written something like this: Trustee’s name, Trustee of the John Doe Family Trust and should appear on your trust document, or certificate of trust, which you can use during the trust funding process to show proof that your trust exists.
People often open a trust for more control over how money and assets are passed to their heirs, and more complex trusts have additional benefits, like reducing estate taxes. You can provide instructions in your will to transfer assets into a trust, whether it’s a trust created during your lifetime or a testamentary trust created when you die. Keep in mind that assets transferred according to a will don’t avoid probate. Additionally, revocable trust assets can be removed at the grantor’s discretion, but when you transfer assets into an irrevocable trust — which cannot be changed — it will be very difficult to "unfund" it or remove any trust assets.
Transfer real estate property
To put a house into a living trust you must create a new deed to transfer the property. Retitling the house into the trust doesn't typically affect the terms of a mortgage, but you should notify the lender, along with any HOA association, or co-op board. You should also notify the title insurance company and homeowners insurance company to change the name from yours to the trust's. After the deed has been completed and notarized, you may be required by your state to record it with the county clerk or land recorder's office and pay a filing fee.
In states that allow a transfer on death deed, you can designate the trust as a beneficiary to receive the house upon your death.
Learn more in this guide on how to transfer real estate property into a living trust.
Transfer vehicles
Cars and other vehicles with a title can also be transferred into the trust by retitling. You must typically visit the DMV to file the paperwork and change the car’s title. You may also have to show proof of your trust, which you can do with a certificate of trust, provide proof of auto insurance, and pay fees. Boats and other vessels may have additional registration requirements in your county or state.
Fund personal property
Some of your belongings and assets — like your fine jewelry, antique furniture, or rare book collection — may not come with a title or any official evidence of ownership. To make them trust property, you need to assign ownership, by creating a document that explicitly names and describes them.
Add money and securities
If you are setting up a trust fund for someone to use immediately, then you’ll need to make sure there’s money in it. A trust also has its operating costs — see how much a trust costs. You can fund your trust with a savings account, checking account, or money market account and the procedures for doing so can vary based on the bank or credit union. Some financial institutions will let you rename your account with the name of the trust, or you may have to open a new account for the trust and transfer the money into it.
Similarly, if you want the trust to make investments, you can open a new brokerage account for it or you may be able to transfer an existing account into the trust’s name. Stocks and bonds may also be transferred and reissued to the trust. Reach out to your broker or financial advisor if you have more questions on how to transfer securities into your trust.
Make the trust a beneficiary for certain assets
Certain financial assets should be made payable or transferable on death to the trust. A beneficiary designation allows an asset to pass directly to someone outside of probate. You must fill out a form with whoever holds the asset and designate your trust as the beneficiary. You can fund your trust via beneficiary designation for the following assets:
Retirement accounts, like 401(k) plans and IRAs
Qualified annuities
MSAs (medical savings accounts)
HSAs (health savings accounts)
Life insurance policies
When you name your trust as the beneficiary, the funds or account assets are paid out or transferred to the trust. Then your trust assets are managed and distributed according to the terms you set. The benefit of funding your trust this way is that you will have more control over the trust funds and can prevent a spendthrift beneficiary from spending it all at once. You could choose to distribute money in periodic installments or have the trustee invest according to your terms.
If you have life insurance, you can also make the trust the owner of the policy, effectively creating a life insurance trust. Transferring ownership allows the trust to be the account holder and pay the premiums, while also reducing your estate tax liability. Read more about how an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) works and if it’s right for you.
Transfer business interests
Having a trust own business interests could make transitions smoother for your heirs when you pass away. There are different procedures depending on the structure of the business. If you have partners or shared interest in a small business, you typically need to get approval from other partners before you transfer your interest. Speak with an estate planning attorney for more information.
