Signing your Trust is only half the job. To actually avoid probate, the assets you want the Trust to control must be retitled in the Trust's name. This step is called "funding," and it is where most DIY estate plans quietly fail.
Real property
Record a new grant deed transferring each California property from your individual name into the Trust. File a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report with the county. Done correctly, this does not trigger property-tax reassessment under Prop 13.
Bank and brokerage accounts
Contact each institution and retitle checking, savings, and taxable brokerage accounts into the name of the Trust. Most banks have an internal form; they will usually ask for a Certification of Trust, which we provide as part of your package.
Retirement accounts and life insurance
Do not retitle IRAs, 401(k)s, or annuities — doing so triggers income tax. Instead, update the beneficiary designations. Depending on your situation, the Trust may be a primary or contingent beneficiary.
Business interests and personal property
Assign membership interests, closely-held shares, and tangible personal property to the Trust via short assignment documents included in your package.
A Trust that isn't funded isn't doing its job. If you already have a Trust that you're unsure about, we can review your funding status and flag what still needs to move.