In many ways a trust is like a box, built to hold those things that will be a gift for others-but in order to avoid giving someone an empty box, you need to make sure your trust is funded. Funding the trust involves transferring ownership of assets, such as cash, investments, real estate, or other valuables, into the trust during your lifetime. Proper funding allows the trust to bypass probate, providing a smoother and often quicker transfer to beneficiaries. It’s important to work with an attorney or financial advisor to ensure all intended assets are correctly titled in the trust’s name and to review the funding periodically to keep it up-to-date with your financial situation and goals.