Are you wondering if a home with a mortgage can be placed into a living trust? The answer is yes! In this video, I’ll walk you through the step-by-step process of transferring your mortgaged home into a trust, explain how ownership is affected, and address the important details surrounding due-on-sale clauses. Whether it’s your primary residence, vacation home, or rental property, understanding the rules can help protect your assets and loved ones while avoiding costly probate. If you’re a California resident and know it’s time to set up your estate plan, visit www.ocestateplanlawyer.com for more information. Ready to take the next step? California residents can schedule a free estate planning strategy session with me by clicking this link: https://calendly.com/d/3p9-883-5j2. Don’t forget to like, share, and subscribe for more expert guidance on estate planning, and feel free to ask your own questions in the comments—there’s a good chance we’ll answer them in a future video! What You’ll Learn in This Video: 1. Can a Home with a Mortgage Be Placed in a Living Trust? Yes, you can place a home with a mortgage into a living trust, and I’ll explain why it’s allowed. The lender’s lien on the property remains intact, so the transfer doesn’t affect their security interest. For primary residences, the federal Garn-St. Germain Act protects you by ensuring that transferring your home into a trust won’t trigger the due-on-sale clause. This means your mortgage terms stay the same, and the lender cannot demand immediate repayment simply because you moved the property into your trust. 2. Understanding Due-on-Sale Clauses for Non-Primary Residences: While primary residences are protected under federal law, vacation homes, rental properties, or other non-primary residences might not be. I’ll cover how lenders may enforce due-on-sale clauses in these situations, what that means for you, and how to navigate this issue. Understanding these differences is crucial for ensuring your estate planning process is smooth and legally sound. 3. How to Transfer a Mortgaged Home into a Trust: In this section, I’ll provide a clear, actionable guide on how to transfer your home’s title into your living trust. This includes: • Ensuring you’re the legal owner of the property • Creating the trust with the help of an estate planning attorney • Preparing and filing a new deed with the county recorder’s office, which transfers ownership from yourself to yourself as the trustee of the trust • Notifying your lender if necessary, and understanding when this step is required, especially for non-primary residences 4. Ownership and Control After the Transfer: After the transfer, you retain control over your property as the trustee, and your mortgage terms remain unchanged. I’ll explain how the title is updated to reflect the trust as the owner, and what this means for your day-to-day management of the property. 5. Benefits of Placing a Mortgaged Home in a Trust: The primary benefit of placing your home into a living trust is to avoid probate. I’ll dive into how this can save your heirs time, money, and the headache of dealing with the court system. Additionally, by transferring your home into a trust, you ensure that it is managed according to your wishes in the event of incapacity, and that it passes seamlessly to your beneficiaries when the time comes. Why Avoiding Probate is Crucial: Avoiding probate isn’t just about saving time and money; it’s about ensuring your loved ones can inherit your property without legal complications. A living trust allows for a smooth transition, free from the delays and costs associated with the probate process. By placing your home in a trust, you protect your heirs from potential disputes and ensure your estate is handled according to your wishes. Common Misconceptions: I’ll also address common misconceptions, like the belief that you need to pay off your mortgage before transferring your home into a trust. That’s not the