A trust can own almost any kind of asset except for retirement plans. The types of assets that can be retitled in the name of the trust include cash accounts such as checking accounts, savings accounts, money market accounts and CDs; brokerage accounts; non-qualified annuities (and the trust can also be named as the primary or secondary beneficiary); monies owed to you; oil, gas and mineral rights; and royalties, copyrights, trademarks, and patents.
Tangible personal property such as jewelry, clothing, books, household goods, furniture, antiques, collectibles, artwork and pets can also be owned by a trust.
Business interests including shares of stock in a closely held corporation, partnership interests, and membership interests in limited liability companies can also be transferred to a trust, but you should consult any shareholder agreements, partnership agreements, and operating agreements for restrictions on transfers and specific procedures to retitle the shares in the name of the trust.
Finally, real estate can be retitled (or purchased) in the name of the trust, but the transfer requires recording a new deed in the locality where the real property is located.
The Amount of Assets Required To Establish A Trust
There is no minimum amount of money or type of asset required to establish a trust. Although a trust can be funded with a small amount of money, whether or not to create one is a financial decision based on the overall benefits and the estate plan, and not on the amount of the trust itself.
Trusts are discussed in more detail in my book “Nothing But The Truth About Estate Planning, Probate And Living Trusts”. Download your copy here: Nothing But The Truth About Estate Planning, Probate And Living Trusts by Larry Israeloff CPA & tax attorney.
