09/01/2026
I use a beach bucket to explain trust funding at my workshops because it's one of the simplest ways to understand it.
Imagine you bring an empty bucket to the beach.
It looks like a bucket.
It was designed to carry things.
But until you put something inside it... it's just an empty bucket.
A trust works the same way.
Creating a trust is an important first step, but it's only the beginning. The trust is the container. Your home, certain bank and investment accounts, and other assets may need to be transferred into the trust or coordinated with it before it can do what it was designed to do.
That's called funding your trust.
This is where I see families get surprised.
They did everything they thought they were supposed to do. They met with an attorney. They signed the documents. They put the beautiful binder on the shelf.
Years later, we discover the house was never deeded into the trust, a new property was purchased outside the trust, or beneficiary designations were never reviewed.
The trust wasn't the problem.
It was simply never given the assets it was supposed to protect.
That's why I always tell people that signing the trust isn't the finish line. It's one important step in creating a plan that actually works when your family needs it.
If you've created a trust but you're not completely sure it's been funded correctly, or it's been several years since anyone reviewed it, this is a great time to take another look.
We've put together a blog that explains trust funding in plain English and walks you through why this step matters.
đź“– Read the latest blog through the link in our bio.
https://shoreestatelaw.com/how-to-fund-a-living-trust/
