What Is a Trust Transfer Deed—and Why You Need One in Your Estate Plan

Jennifer Georgianne
Jul 6
3 min read

If you’ve taken the time to set up a revocable living trust, you’re already a step ahead in protecting your assets and avoiding probate. But creating a trust is only half the job—you also need to fund it. One of the most important tools for funding a trust is a Trust Transfer Deed.

At East County Estate Planning, PC, we help families across Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Woodinville, Sammamish, and King County, Washington, as well as La Mesa, Santee, El Cajon, and San Diego County, California, ensure their real estate is properly transferred into their trust using Trust Transfer Deeds.

What Is a Trust Transfer Deed?

A Trust Transfer Deed is a legal document used to transfer real property—like your home—into your trust. It changes the legal title of your property from your name as an individual to your name as trustee of your living trust.

For example:

Before: Jane Doe

After: Jane Doe, Trustee of the Jane Doe Revocable Trust dated [Date]

This transfer ensures that your real estate is owned by your trust and will be managed or distributed according to the trust terms—without going through probate.

Why It’s So Important

Many people mistakenly believe that just having a trust will avoid probate. That’s only true if your assets are titled in the name of your trust. If your home or other real estate is not transferred properly, it may still go through probate, defeating one of the main purposes of the trust.

A Trust Transfer Deed is what officially links your property to your trust.

Key Benefits of a Trust Transfer Deed

✅ Avoids Probate: Keeps your property out of court, saving time and money for your loved ones
✅ Preserves Property Tax Status: In California, it qualifies as a non-reassessment transfer under Prop 13
✅ Provides Incapacity Protection: Allows your successor trustee to manage the property if you become incapacitated
✅ Retains Homestead and Mortgage Protections: Properly drafted deeds won’t affect your existing mortgage or homeowner protections

Special Considerations for Washington and California

Both Washington State and California have specific rules and procedures for recording Trust Transfer Deeds:

In King County, Washington, deeds must be recorded with the county recorder’s office and accompanied by a Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) affidavit, even for exempt transfers.
In San Diego County, California, Trust Transfer Deeds must be recorded with the county and typically include a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) to avoid property tax reassessment.

Mistakes in the deed, like improper legal descriptions or missing signatures, can delay or void the transfer—putting your estate plan at risk.

Let a Professional Help You Do It Right

At East County Estate Planning, PC, we routinely prepare and record Trust Transfer Deeds as part of our comprehensive estate planning services. We ensure your real estate is properly titled to your trust, so your plan works the way it’s supposed to—when it matters most.

Serving Clients in:

Washington: Kirkland, Redmond, Bothell, Woodinville, Sammamish, King County
California: La Mesa, Santee, El Cajon, San Diego County

Ready to secure your real estate with a Trust Transfer Deed? Contact us today to schedule

Office Locations

📞 Call us today at (619) 566-8084 or visit www.ecestateplanning.com to schedule your free consultation.

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Reading this blog or contacting our firm through this website does not create an attorney–client relationship. You should not act or refrain from acting based on any content included in this blog without seeking appropriate legal or other professional advice specific to your situation.