To fund your trust with real estate, you must complete a deed transfer — this legally re-titles the property from your name into the name of your trust. Wealth.com has partnered with Dec Law, a preferred deed preparation provider, to make this process seamless for you.
In order to start the process, make sure you have created your estate planning documents.
Note: You can include your advisor in communications regarding your deed transfer by checking the box labeled "I would like my advisor to be included in communications for this order" during the Contacts and Payments step.
How to Start Your Deed Prep Order
Option 1: From the Document Center Page
Use this path if you have already exited the workflow, or if documents have already been signed and marked as validated in the platform.
Navigate to the Document Center page from your top navigation bar.
Select the Validation Services button in the top-right corner --> Fund Your Trust.
Choose the trust to fund and select the specific properties/real estate to transfer
Choose a timeline and whether to include a mobile notary and witnesses for signing.
After the request has been submitted, you will receive an email confirmation for the deed prep order.
Option 2: At the End of the Trust Creation Workflow
This path is available if documents have not been confirmed as signed (e.g. are pending validation) in the platform.
At the end of the document creation workflow, follow the prompts on the "What's Next?" page:
Select "Learn More" under the Fund Your Trust option.
Under Real Property, click "Transfer Your Deed".
Pricing & Payment
Dec Law offers flat-fee pricing so there are no surprises:
Deed Preparation: $175 per deed, standard 2-week turnaround
Rush Option: $50 (for 48-hour turnaround)
Mobile Notary: $295 (separate charge if included in the deed prep order)
If you selected the mobile notary option, Sign Here Ink, our mobile notary provider, will also contact you to confirm logistics for your mobile notary appointment. After your mobile notary appointment concludes, your deed prep documents will be mailed to the relevant county clerk's office to be officially "recorded", which can take several weeks depending on the county. Once recorded, Dec Law uploads a "Certificate of Delivery" into your Vault as a reference. If you also brought your estate plan (i.e., trust) to be notarized in that appointment, you keep the original documents, and your mobile notary will digitally scan copies into Wealth.com for you and your advisor's records.
Witness: Included with mobile notary.
Country Recording Fees: County recording fees vary by state and county and are paid separately at filing.
Refunds
All refund requests are handled directly by Dec Law. If your client needs to initiate a refund, please have them reach out to support@thedecfirm.com or 716-204-1806.
FAQs
Does my trust need to be signed and notarized before I can do deed prep?
Yes — the trust needs to be signed and notarized before the deed is executed so that the trust legally "exists" and can hold real estate. In practice, both documents are often signed on the same date. Dec Law can coordinate this so that your trust and deed are signed and notarized in the same appointment.
Do I need to notarize my estate plan through Dec Law to use the deed prep service?
No. Notarization of your estate plan documents is entirely optional when placing a deed prep order. You may request deed preparation as a standalone service regardless of how you choose to notarize your other documents.
If I choose my own notary, how do I return the notarized documents for recording?
Once your deed and any transfer forms are properly executed and notarized, mail all original documents to Dec Law's office: 8940 Main Street, Clarence, NY 14031 (per the instruction form you will receive with your order). Dec Law will then submit them to the county clerk for recording.
How do I know when my deed has been recorded?
Once recording is complete, Dec Law will upload a Certificate of Delivery into your Vault in Wealth.com. You can also track the status of your order at any time via Document Center > Track Orders.
What if I receive an unexpected letter from my mortgage company after the transfer?
Federal law (the Garn-St. Germain Act) prevents a transfer of real estate into a revocable trust from triggering a "due on sale" or acceleration clause in a mortgage. If your mortgage company sends a form letter after the transfer, it typically states that their consent is not required. You do not need to update anything on your mortgage.
Is signing the trust agreement itself enough to transfer my property?
No. Signing the trust creates the trust, but does not transfer the property. You must also sign a deed — and any accompanying property tax or other required forms — to legally re-title the property into the trust.
Will transferring my property into the trust affect my homeowner's insurance?
Many homeowners don't think about this, but adding the trust as an additional insured on your homeowner's policy is a good idea. We recommend contacting your insurance agent to understand how the change may affect your coverage and to update the policy if needed.
Will the transfer trigger a property tax reassessment?
In general, transferring property into a revocable trust should not trigger a reassessment as long as the beneficial ownership remains the same (for example, if you own 100% of the property and transfer it to your own revocable trust). Some states, like California, require a separate filing form (PCOR) to confirm there is no change in ownership. Dec Law assists clients in preparing the PCOR for states that require it. A reassessment may occur if the transfer results in a change in beneficial ownership. For example, if the property is transferred to a trust where someone other than the original owner becomes the beneficial owner, this could trigger a reassessment. Additionally, while California requires a PCOR form, other states may have similar filing requirements to confirm no change in ownership. It is advisable to consult local regulations or a qualified professional to ensure compliance.
What if I only own half the property?
You can transfer your ownership share into the trust. It is also possible to split a property between two trusts. If you are unsure whether this is the right approach for your situation, consult with an attorney.
What if my property is held in an LLC and I want to transfer it into my trust?
An LLC-to-trust transfer can be handled as a standard deed prep order. Once Dec Law obtains the current deed, they will reach out for any additional information related to the LLC.
Can Dec Law assist with a property that has no physical address and is identified only by a lot number?
Yes. To conduct the transfer, you would need to provide either a physical address or the property's APN (Assessor's Parcel Number) / Tax Bill assigned number.
When should I transfer real estate into a trust?
If your primary goal is to avoid a full probate proceeding and you own real estate, transferring it into your trust is strongly recommended. Real estate can have enough value on its own to disqualify your estate from simplified "small estate" procedures, which vary by state. This is especially important for properties you own outside of your home state — holding them in your trust lets your trustee avoid secondary probate proceedings in those other jurisdictions. Note that the transfer is not legally effective until you sign a valid deed (and any required accompanying forms).
Does Dec Law pull the deed?
Yes, Dec Law generally pulls the last recorded deed and uses it to draft the new deed. That said, if Dec Law can't locate the recorded deed online, they may ask for a copy.