How to Transfer Assets Into a Living Trust

Creating a living trust is a great way for people to protect their assets upon their death. Through the creation of a trust, a person can leave assets to their spouse and avoid costly tax payments and the risk of probate court. In order for your trust to be valid, you must register every asset with a title in the name of the trust.

• Organize a list of the items that you want to place into the trust. You can place anything into a living trust, even items as small as clothing and jewelry. Create an organized list by dividing the items into categories.


• Find an estate attorney to help you. You will need to hire an experienced estate attorney in order to create your living trust. The attorney will help you to complete all of the required paperwork and transfer all of your assets into the name of the trust.


• Organize your legal paperwork. This includes stocks, bonds, bank statements and titles to any pieces of property that you own. Your estate attorney will need these documents in order to create your trust and transfer your assets.


• In order to transfer small personal property such as jewelry, clothing or art, into your trust, you simply need to draft a transfer document. These items do not have titles, so the transfer procedure is rather straightforward. Simply draft a document listing and describing all of the items that you want to transfer into your trust. Take the document to a notary public. Sign the document and have it notarized. Once notarized, the document should be kept on file with all of your trust documents.


• To transfer real estate into your trust, you will need to file a quitclaim deed. Your attorney will handle the drafting and filing of this deed on your behalf. Once drafted, the quitclaim deed will need to be filed with the town clerk in order to be valid.