What Assets Should Stay Out of a Trust?
One of the most common questions I get from clients considering a trust is deceptively simple: “If a trust avoids probate, shouldn’t everything go into it?”
It’s a fair question—and it’s where a lot of confusion (and bad advice) begins. A trust is a powerful estate planning tool, but it’s not a dumping ground for every asset you own. In fact, putting the wrong assets into a trust can create extra work, unnecessary fees, or tax complications for you and your family.
If you’re unsure which assets actually belong in a trust (and why), today’s article will clear that up.
Why “put everything in a trust” is bad estate planning advice
Estate planning is not one-size-fits-all. While trusts are excellent for avoiding probate in Georgia, not every asset needs to be owned by the trust itself to accomplish that goal. Some assets may pass more cleanly outside the trust using beneficiary designations or Georgia’s non-probate transfer rules.
This is why I always recommend consulting an experienced attorney when you’re creating your estate plan. A solid estate plan should balance probate avoidance, tax efficiency, and administrative ease for your family. If it doesn’t do all three, you could end up accidentally creating a nightmare.
What assets should stay out of your trust (and why)?
Before we start, an important caveat: There are always exceptions. The right structure depends on your family, finances, and goals. But in most Georgia estate plans, the following assets are better left outside your trust.
Retirement accounts
Retirement accounts such as 401(k)s, IRAs, and pensions already have a built-in estate planning feature: beneficiary designations. In many cases, naming an individual beneficiary accomplishes your inheritance goals, without retitling the account or complicating taxes during your lifetime.
In certain situations, it may make sense to name your trust as beneficiary (for example, when minor children are involved). But retirement accounts are one area where small mistakes can have big tax consequences, so it’s important to get professional guidance before you decide.
Vehicles
In Georgia, vehicles are seldom titled into a trust, and for good reason. Cars are short-lived assets (they’re bought, sold, and replaced frequently), so retitling vehicles into a trust often creates more paperwork than it’s worth. Georgia also provides simple, non-probate transfer options for vehicles, so assigning them into a trust isn’t necessary to avoid probate.
However, if you own a collectible or high-value vehicle intended to stay in the family over the long term, trust ownership may make sense. If you’re unsure, ask your estate planning attorney what will work best for your family’s vehicles.
What assets probably should be in your trust?
Personal property
Personal property is anything you own that doesn’t have a title or a deed. This generally includes items like:
- Furniture
- Clothing
- Jewelry
- Artwork
- Household items
You’ll sometimes hear that personal property should be left out of a trust because it’s “too much work” (usually for professional trustees) to include it, but I don’t fully agree with that. In many cases, placing personal property in the trust helps families avoid probate altogether, which is one of the main reasons people create a trust in the first place.
That said, clarity matters. A well-designed plan will include specific distributions for items of particular sentimental or material value to prevent disputes. No one should have to go to court over a 12-year-old couch, but they shouldn’t fight over precious family heirlooms, either.
Should I put my house in a trust?
This is one of the most common questions I get, and the answer is often yes, especially in Georgia. Placing your home or rental property into a revocable living trust can keep it out of probate, prevent delays in selling or managing the property, and allow a successor trustee to step in immediately.
But timing and execution matter. Deeds must be prepared and transferred correctly, and mortgages must be handled properly.
How to avoid probate without creating new problems
A smart trust should keep your assets out of Georgia probate, minimize tax implications, and make administration simple for your family to manage. To achieve these goals, knowing what not to put into a trust is just as important as knowing what belongs there.
Here’s a quick recap:
Assets often best left out of your trust:
- Retirement accounts
- Vehicles
Assets often best included in your trust:
- Real estate
- Personal property
If you’re still deciding whether a trust is right for you—or wondering which assets belong where—this is exactly where professional guidance makes all the difference.
Download the free Beginner’s Guide to Estate Planning for instant answers, or book a discovery call to talk through your assets in more detail.
