Can a brokerage account be placed in a living trust?

Many brokerage firms allow a taxable brokerage account to be retitled to a revocable trust. The firm controls its paperwork, and the transfer may require a certification of trust.

General information

• A transfer-on-death registration is a different probate-avoidance tool.
• State law and firm policy affect available registration.
• Retirement accounts follow different tax rules.

Service steps to consider

1. Asking the brokerage about trust registration.
2. Confirming cost basis and beneficiary records remain correct.
3. Risk: retitling a retirement account without tax advice.

Quick check

• Is the asset in the trust's name?
• Did the bank or county record the change?
• Did I save proof?

How Complete Wills can help

Complete Wills' trust-based package includes a revocable living trust, schedule of assets, certification of trust, pour-over will, power of attorney, health-care directive, and HIPAA authorization. The service can prepare documents from customer answers. But the customer remains responsible for signing and for properly funding the trust. Customer support can explain website features and questionnaire fields, but it cannot choose documents, people, distributions, or legal terms, interpret a completed document, or explain how the law applies to a person's facts. Only a separately engaged licensed attorney may provide legal advice within the attorney's engagement.

Important limits

• A trust controls only property legally connected to it. A schedule alone may not change title.
• Get legal, tax, or financial advice before transferring retirement accounts, business interests, mortgaged property, foreign property, or assets with transfer restrictions. This article gives general information only. A licensed attorney can explain how state law applies to a specific estate plan or document.