Straight Answers: What does it mean to put my home in a trust?

What does it mean to put my home in a trust?

A trust is a legal arrangement when one party holds onto assets on behalf of a beneficiary. If your home is in a trust, it will be passed down without going through probate.

In California, property not titled in your trust can be subject to probate, delaying distributions, increasing costs, and exposing your estate to public scrutiny,

I recently attended a class on this topic put on by Bridget Burns, an estate planning attorney with White & Bright LLP. Ms. Burns said the average probate sale in San Diego is taking 18 months to 5 years. Probate costs are made up of several things including attorney fees and administrator costs and once the probate sale is complete, the total cost is exponentially higher than if the homeowner had a living trust created prior to passing away.

An estate attorney or financial planner can help you evaluate the best approach for your circumstances. I am also planning to hold a seminar with an estate planning attorney this coming Fall 2025. If you would like more information or for me to check your deed on record to see if the trust is listed, contact me.