10/13/2026
A living trust can help your family avoid probate—but there are still steps to take afterward.
During a recent estate plan signing, a family asked an important question: “What will our child need to do with the house after we pass?”
When a home is properly titled into a living trust, it can generally pass according to the trust’s instructions without going through probate. But the successor trustee still has responsibilities.
Depending on the circumstances, those responsibilities may include:
• Recording an Affidavit of Death of Trustee with a certified death certificate.
• Filing the required property ownership statement with the county assessor, generally within 150 days after death.
• Completing required notices and addressing debts, taxes, and other trust administration matters.
• Preparing and recording a deed when the home is ready to be distributed to the beneficiary under the trust’s terms.
Avoiding probate does not mean avoiding all paperwork. Understanding that distinction helps families prepare for what comes next.
DeedAssure provides self-help legal document preparation services for estate planning, trust funding, and property transfers.
Plan for the future. Protect what you’ve built.
General educational information only; requirements vary. DeedAssure is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Consult an attorney for advice about trustee duties, distribution, or your particular circumstances.
Sonoma County LDA: DeedAssure — -000093 | Exp. 09/28/2028.
Sonoma County LDA: Julie Florio — -000089 | Exp. 09/30/2028.
