Creating a trust document doesn't, by itself, put your home or other real estate under the trust's control. That only happens when a new deed transfers the property from you individually into the name of the trust — a step that's often overlooked or done incorrectly.
The deed has to name the trust correctly
The new deed needs to identify the trust precisely — typically the trustee's name, 'as trustee of' the trust, and the trust's exact name and date. Getting this wording wrong can create ambiguity about who actually holds title.
Mortgages and due-on-sale clauses
Transferring mortgaged property into a revocable living trust is generally protected under federal law from triggering a due-on-sale clause, but the details matter — this protection typically doesn't extend to irrevocable trusts or certain other transfers, so it's worth confirming before recording the deed.
Title insurance and recording
The new deed needs to be properly recorded with the county, and it's worth confirming with your title insurer that coverage carries over to the trust — some policies require an endorsement to keep title insurance in effect after the transfer.
Don't forget property in other states
If you own real estate in more than one state, each property typically needs its own deed prepared to that state's requirements — one of the main reasons an out-of-state property ends up going through probate anyway when this step gets missed.