Trust Funding: The Critical Step to Finalizing Your Estate Plan
A trust that isn't funded is like an empty box— full of potential, but useless until you put something into it.
Trust Funding and Estate Planning
Creating a trust is the first step to planning your future, but making sure it’s funded throughout your lifetime is just as vital. In Oklahoma, a trust only works if your assets, such as your home, bank accounts, and investments, are properly transferred into it. This process, known as trust funding, ensures your trust can do what it’s designed to do: manage your assets during your lifetime and distribute them according to your wishes.
Our Oklahoma trust attorneys guide you through every step of this important process. We review your assets, provide clear direction on proper titling and ownership, and help you keep your trust up to date as your life and circumstances change. This thoughtful, hands-on approach helps ensure your plan remains effective and that your wishes are honored, not just when your trust is created, but for years to come.
Properly funding your trust brings lasting peace of mind. It helps your family avoid probate, reduces costs and delays, and keeps your financial affairs private. Most importantly, it ensures your plan works as intended. At Ball Morse Lowe, we don’t just create estate plans, we make sure they carry you and your family confidently into the future.
Commonly Asked Trust Funding Questions in Oklahoma
Funding your trust involves several key steps, and our estate planning attorneys are here to guide you through each one:
- Create your trust document. This document outlines your wishes, names your beneficiaries and trustee(s), and details how your assets should be managed and distributed.
- Select which assets to transfer. This can include real estate, bank accounts, vehicles, and investments.
- Transfer ownership to your trust. Once your trust is signed and notarized, deeds, titles, and accounts must be updated to reflect the trust as the new owner.
- Work with your financial institutions. Some banks or investment firms may require additional forms or documentation to complete transfers.
- Review your beneficiaries. Make sure your beneficiary designations are consistent with your trust plan, updating them where necessary.
Our attorneys ensure each step is handled thoughtfully so your trust functions as intended, both now and in the future.
The cost to fund a trust in Oklahoma depends on the complexity of your estate, the type and number of assets being transferred, and any third-party fees, such as from financial institutions or appraisers. For most families, trust funding typically ranges from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars, depending on the scope of the plan.
At Ball Morse Lowe, we believe clarity matters as much as the plan itself. That’s why our estate planning attorneys offer flat-fee pricing for most trust and estate planning services. You’ll know exactly what to expect before we begin, no hourly surprises, just transparent guidance, and a plan designed around your goals and your budget.
If your trust isn’t properly funded, it won’t control your assets , meaning your estate could still go through probate or require court involvement. Without transferring your home, accounts, or other property into the trust, those assets remain in your name and may not be distributed according to your wishes.
This can cause unnecessary delays, expenses, and stress for your loved ones. Our trust attorneys help ensure your trust is fully funded and functions as intended, protecting your family from avoidable complications.
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Our family trust lawyers help you fund and maintain your trust so your plan continues to work for you throughout your lifetime.Browse Content Library
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