Most people believe that once they sign a living revocable trust, their estate is protected. But (as I explain in my new video) the truth is that a poorly written or unfunded trust is nothing more than an expensive piece of paper. If your assets aren’t properly placed in the trust—bank accounts,
real estate, brokerage accounts, everything you sign your name for—then when you pass away, those assets still end up in probate.
Probate is the ugly surprise families discover when they go back to the lawyer’s office after you die, and the bills keep piling up.
The real solution? You must fund the trust, and that requires action on your part—not procrastination.
Funding your trust means moving assets into its name, dealing with banks, reissuing deeds,
updating signature cards, titles, etc. You do it when you set up a trust and you have to do it all over again when you amend your trust.
It can feel like a hassle, but it’s the only way to make sure the trust works as intended. You are doing this to take care of your loved ones.
Lose your copy of the trust, and you’re back in court. Fail to update it after major life events, and your ex-spouse may still have legal authority over assets. The message is clear: the trust
requires care, attention, and timely action if it’s going to protect your family when they need it most.
Your friend,
Lee Phillips
U.S. Supreme Court Counselor | Federal Tax Court Attorney
P.S. The next Boot Camp has been scheduled for October 22-23, 2025.
