By Anu Joshi, CPA, Senior Tax Manager
ASL Family Wealth & Individual Tax Group

A common misconception is that once you have a will and a living trust in place, nothing else needs to be done in order for your assets to be distributed at your death according to your wishes. The mere listing of an asset in the trust agreement does not make it a trust asset. Actually, assets have to be held in the name of the trustee, (i.e. the title of the asset has to be transferred to the trustee of the trust,) in order for the asset to be subject to the terms of the trust agreement. At the same time, certain types of assets pass by other means, irrespective of whether or not a will or trust is in place. You will want to understand these differences in order to appropriately title your assets to make sure they are transferred as you intend at death.

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