Do I need to transfer my assets to my trust?

Yes, it is necessary to transfer assets into your trust in order for the trust to be effective. This is because the purpose of a probate avoidance trust is to transfer ownership of assets out of the individual's name and into the trust, so that the assets do not have to go through the probate process upon the individual's death. Without transferring assets into the trust, the individual's assets would still be subject to probate and the trust would not serve its intended purpose.