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Trusts and Bank Accounts You might have a checking account, savings account and a certificate of deposit. You can put any or all of these into a living trust. However, this isn't necessary to avoid probate. Instead, you can name a payable-on-death beneficiary for bank accounts.

You can name a trust anything you like, and the name can be long, short, simple or complicated. When choosing a name, keep in mind that the name will be in the title of any asset held in the trust. This consideration may inspire some to keep the name on the short side.

Assets that should not be used to fund your living trust include:Qualified retirement accounts 401ks, IRAs, 403(b)s, qualified annuities.Health saving accounts (HSAs)Medical saving accounts (MSAs)Uniform Transfers to Minors (UTMAs)Uniform Gifts to Minors (UGMAs)Life insurance.Motor vehicles.

For formal revocable trusts, the accounts can be titled in the name of the trust or by simply having the word trust in the title. For purposes of meeting this requirement, the term title includes the electronic deposit account records of the IDI.

Typical trust naming. Most trusts are named after the Trust Creators and also include the date the trust was created. Examples are John and Jane Smith Revocable Trust dated 1/1/20; or Smith Family Trust dated 1/1/20; or John W. Smith and Jane A. Smith Revocable Family Trust dated 1/1/20.

This should include the titles and deeds to real property, bank account information, investment accounts, stock certificates, life insurance policies, and other assets you will be using to fund the trust.

Another downside of living trusts is that transferring assets can be both time-consuming and complicated. If you hold a variety of assets, you'll need to contact your different banks and agents to have everything you own moved over -- a process that could involve a fair amount of paperwork.