March 5, 2019

It’s important to remember that a living trust is only active and valid once it has become funded. The living trust becomes funded after the creator puts together the necessary documents and then funds the trust by formally transferring the assets inside. The specific process for moving assets into this trust by the grantor will depend on the kind of property involved.

There are two major ways to fund assets into a living trust. The first of these is by changing title. When you, the grantor, hold title and assets like bank accounts, brokerage account, investment accounts, stock and bond certificates or real estate, you will need to transfer assets into the trust by changing the name of the owner from you to that of the trustee.

The second method of transferring assets into a living trust is by assigning ownership rights. If you own a piece of property, but do not hold the legal title in the assets, such as jewelry, art, antiques, intellectual property, business interest or promissory notes, you must formally assign ownership rights from you as the individual to the trustee. You could choose to list the trustee or the trust as your beneficiary for other assets such as pensions, life insurance, and retirement accounts, but remember that this action in and of itself does not technically transfer those assets inside the trust.

This is why you need support from a team of experienced professionals such as a tax advisor and a knowledgeable estate planning attorney to help you with the process of selecting, managing, and funding a living trust.