🌲 How to Set Up a Trust in Minnesota (2025 Guide)

More Minnesotans are choosing to create revocable living trusts to keep their families out of probate court, preserve privacy, and pass on assets smoothly.

If you're wondering how to create a legal trust in Minnesota — without spending thousands on legal fees — this guide will walk you through every step.

🔍 What Is a Trust?

A trust is a legal arrangement that allows you (the grantor) to place assets into a structure managed by a trustee, for the benefit of your beneficiaries.

The most common type in Minnesota is the Revocable Living Trust, which:

✅ Avoids probate court
✅ Keeps your estate private
✅ Lets you retain full control while alive
✅ Automatically transfers property to heirs
✅ Helps plan for disability or incapacity

📍 How to Set Up a Trust in Minnesota

1. Choose Your Trust Type

Most people start with a Revocable Living Trust, which is:

• Valid and recognized in Minnesota

• Flexible (you can amend or revoke it anytime)

• Ideal for most personal estates

Optional trust types include:
☐ Minor’s Trust
☐ Special Needs Trust
☐ Spendthrift Trust
☐ Dynasty Trust

✅ TrustGenie includes these as optional add-ons in every package.

2. Assign the Key Roles

☐ Grantor – You, the creator of the trust
☐ Trustee – The person managing the trust (often yourself)
☐ Successor Trustee – Steps in if you're incapacitated or deceased
☐ Beneficiaries – The individuals or causes receiving the assets

3. List and Organize Your Assets

Include all relevant property such as:

• Minnesota real estate (home, cabin, farmland)

• Bank and retirement accounts

• Stocks, bonds, and investments

• Vehicles, businesses, and LLCs

• Digital assets (crypto, domains, etc.)

• Valuables and personal property

✅ TrustGenie provides a Schedule A and General Assignment to simplify this.

4. Draft, Sign & Notarize the Trust

Minnesota does not require witness signatures for trusts, but notarization is required for full validity.

✅ TrustGenie guides you step-by-step through the Minnesota-specific signing format.

5. Fund the Trust Properly

Many trusts fail because they were never funded. Don’t skip this step!

To fund your trust:

☐ Transfer real estate via Quitclaim or Warranty Deed
☐ Retitle bank and investment accounts into the trust
☐ Assign personal property using a General Assignment
☐ Update insurance and beneficiary forms (optional)

🚨 An unfunded trust = probate. Don’t make that mistake.

⚠️ Common Mistakes in MN

❌ Creating the trust but never funding it
❌ Failing to include cabins, farmland, or out-of-state property
❌ Using a generic online trust that ignores MN laws
❌ Naming minor kids without a subtrust
❌ Not informing your Successor Trustee where to find documents

💰 How Much Does a Trust Cost in Minnesota?

Method Typical Cost Attorney$2,500 – $6,000 Online Template$100 – $400 TrustGenie$150/year (all-inclusive)

✅ Includes Minnesota-specific forms, deed templates, and funding instructions.

🧠 Do You Need a Lawyer to Create a Trust in Minnesota?

No. Any competent adult can create a trust that is:

• In writing

• Names a trustee and beneficiaries

• Signed and notarized

• Properly funded with assets

✅ TrustGenie handles all of that legally and affordably.

📎 Free Download: Minnesota Trust Setup Checklist

Want a printable checklist to follow step-by-step?
📥 [Download the MN Checklist] – available in plain text on request.

✅ Ready to Protect Your Legacy?

Thousands of Minnesota families trust TrustGenie to avoid probate and secure their legacy — without spending thousands.

👉 [Create Your Minnesota Trust – $150/year]

🔗 Related Guides:

• [Avoiding Probate in Minnesota]

• [How to Transfer Your Home into a Trust in MN]

• [What Happens If You Die Without a Trust in MN?]

✍️ Written by:
TrustGenie Legal Team
Helping families across the Land of 10,000 Lakes secure peace of mind with modern estate planning.