Trusts Funding.
Turning Your Trust into a Workable Plan.
What Does “Funding a Trust” Mean?
Funding your trust means making sure the trust owns, or is the named beneficiary of, the assets you want it to manage and distribute.
That may involve:
Changing the title of assets (like your home or bank account) to your trust
Naming the trust as the beneficiary of life insurance policies, retirement accounts, or investment assets
Transferring business interests or other personal property into the trust
Creating a pour-over will to catch anything accidentally left out
Unfunded or partially funded trusts can lead to probate, delays, or unintended distributions.
What Assets Can (and Should) Be Funded Into a Trust?
Commonly funded assets include:
Real estate (primary residence, vacation homes, investment properties)
Bank accounts and brokerage accounts
Non-retirement investment accounts
Business interests
Valuable personal property or collectibles
Life insurance (often by naming the trust as a beneficiary)
Some assets, like retirement accounts (401(k), IRA), are not typically transferred into the trust during life but may name the trust as a beneficiary under the right circumstances. We’ll guide you on what makes sense based on your goals and tax considerations.
Do I Need to Fund the Trust Myself?
At Poppy Legal Group, we assist with key trust funding steps as part of our Trust-Based Estate Planning Package.
We:
Prepare and record a deed transfer for your Massachusetts real estate
Provide a Certificate of Trust to use with banks and financial institutions
Offer clear, step-by-step instructions for retitling accounts or updating beneficiaries
Coordinate with your financial advisor or insurance agent when needed
While some actions require your signature or personal follow-through, we’re here to guide you through the process, answer your questions, and help ensure nothing important is left out.