The Hive LawYour Next Steps

Your Next Steps

From your drafts to a finished plan

You just got your draft documents. This page tells you what to do next, in order.

Do one step at a time. Everything you need is on this page.

  1. Read your draftsYou are here
  2. Sign your documentsYou are here
  3. Send us your deedOnly if a house or land goes into your trust.You are here
  4. Call your insurance and your mortgage companyYou are here
  5. Move your accountsYou are here
  6. Put your papers awayYou are here

Tap a step to go to it.

Make this page fit you

Answer 3 questions. We hide the parts you do not need. You can change your answers any time.

Are you married?

Is a house or land going into your trust?

Does that home have a mortgage?

Tap a box when you finish it.

A dashed box is only for some people.

A dot is something to know.

This page remembers your ticks and your answers on this phone or computer.

Print everything

Step 1Read your drafts

Do this now.

The Hive Law

Read your Trust Summary. It is easier to read than the legal documents.

Not sure what to look for? Our guide walks you through it: How to read your drafts.

Check 3 things

  • Every name is spelled right.
  • Every person has the right job.
  • The right people get the right things.

Something wrong?

Reply to our email. Tell us what to change. We fix it and send it back.

Everything right?

Reply to our email and tell us it all looks good. Then we email you your final documents to sign.

Our turn

We make your documents final and email them to you. Nothing for you to do until then.

Step 2Signing InstructionsSign your documents

Do this after we email you your final documents.

The Hive Law · Page 1 of 3 Print the Signing Instructions

Who must be in the room

  • You
  • Witness 1
  • Witness 2
  • The notary

Find 1 notary and 2 witnesses. All 3 must be in the room with you while you sign. The notary cannot be one of your 2 witnesses. You need 3 people.

Before signing day

StopDo not sign, initial, or date anything yet.

Where to find a notary

  • Your bank, a UPS Store, or a notary who comes to your home.
  • Call first. Some banks will not notarize wills, so ask. SayI have estate planning documents to sign. I am bringing 2 witnesses.

Who can be a witness

A witness must be an adult, age 18 or older, who gets nothing from your plan. The same 2 witnesses can sign everything.

  • A neighbor
  • A friend
  • A coworker

These people cannot be a witness

  • You or your spouse.
  • Anyone named in your documents. That means your trustees, your agents, your executor, and all of their backups.
  • Anyone who gets anything from your trust or your will.
  • The husband or wife of any of those people.
  • The notary.
  • Anyone who gives you medical care, like your doctor or nurse.

In a hospital or care home? Only 1 of your 2 witnesses may work there.

The Hive Law · Signing InstructionsPage 2 of 3

What to bring

  • A photo ID for you. A driver's license or passport works.
  • All of your documents, not signed.
  • A blue or black pen.
  • This page.
  • The name of the county you are signing in.
  • A photo ID for each witness. Each witness also needs to know their address, phone number, and email.

The date of your trust

Your trust has a blank line for its date. Write the day you sign. Some other documents ask for "the date of your trust." Write that same date every time.

Rules for signing day

  1. Sign your name the way it is printed under the line.
  2. Sign only while your witnesses and the notary are watching.
  3. Initial only the lines you chose. Leave every other initial line empty.
  4. Leave the line "This document prepared by" empty.
  5. Do not cross anything out. Do not write in the margins.

StopMade a mistake? Stop. Do not fix it. Reply to our email and we will tell you what to do.

Write it down

The date of my trust
The county I am signing in
My notary
Witness 1
Witness 2

I own an LLC or a business. We write the papers that move your part of the LLC into your trust. You sign them with your other documents. Keep the signed papers with your LLC records.

The Hive Law · Signing InstructionsPage 3 of 3

Sign in this order

  1. Your TrustYou signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 signs.Notary signs.You:Sign every line with your name under it.Witnesses:Both sign.
  2. Certification of TrustThe short paper that proves your trust is real.You signs.Witness 1 does not sign.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.You:Sign and date.
  3. Your WillYou signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 signs.Notary signs.You:Sign the will. Then sign the next page, called the Self-Proving Affidavit.Witnesses:Both sign the will and print their names and addresses. Both sign the affidavit.
  4. Your spouse's WillYour spouse signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 signs.Notary signs.Your spouse:Sign the will. Then sign the next page, called the Self-Proving Affidavit.Witnesses:Both sign the will and print their names and addresses. Both sign the affidavit.
  5. Your DeedOnly if a house or land goes into your trust.You signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.You:Each owner signs.Witnesses:1 witness signs beside each owner.
  6. Your Power of AttorneyYou signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.You:Initial the lines you chose. Sign and date.Witnesses:1 witness signs and prints their name, address, phone, and email.
  7. Your spouse's Power of AttorneyYour spouse signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.Your spouse:Initial the lines you chose. Sign and date.Witnesses:1 witness signs and prints their name, address, phone, and email.
  8. Your Health Care DirectiveYou signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 signs.Notary does not sign.You:Initial the lines you chose. Sign and date.Witnesses:Both sign, date, and print their names and addresses.The notary:Nothing. No notary on this one.
  9. Your spouse's Health Care DirectiveYour spouse signs.Witness 1 signs.Witness 2 signs.Notary does not sign.Your spouse:Initial the lines you chose. Sign and date.Witnesses:Both sign, date, and print their names and addresses.The notary:Nothing. No notary on this one.
  10. Your HIPAA formYou signs.Witness 1 does not sign.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.You:Sign and date.
  11. Your spouse's HIPAA formYour spouse signs.Witness 1 does not sign.Witness 2 does not sign.Notary signs.Your spouse:Sign and date.

Married? Each of you has your own will, power of attorney, health care directive, and HIPAA form. Finish one person's, then the other's.

Only open this if it fits you

I own an LLC or a business
  • We write the papers that move your part of the LLC into your trust. You sign them with your other documents.
  • Keep the signed papers with your LLC records.

Step 3Send us your deed

Do this right after you sign.

The Hive Law

Only if a house or land goes into your trust.

  1. Your turnTake a photoTake a clear photo of every page of your signed deed with your phone. A scan works too.
  2. Your turnEmail it to usEmail it to melissa.breyer@thehivelaw.com Keep the paper deed with your other signed papers.
  3. Our turnWe file itWe file your deed with your county. Your home is not in your trust until it is filed.
  4. Our turnWe send you the filed copyWhen the county sends it back, we email you the filed copy.

Wait for that email before you do Step 4.

Only open these if they fit you

I own a rental property
  • Each rental has its own deed. Sign each one and email each one to us.
  • Does the rental have a mortgage? Call that lender before we file the deed. Get the answer in writing. AskMay I move this property into my living trust?
  • Is the rental going into an LLC and not your trust? Ask the lender first, any time before we file the deed.
I own more than one property in Georgia
  • Each property has its own deed. Sign each one.
  • Scan each one and put them all in one email to us.
I own property in another state
  • We cannot do a deed in another state. An attorney in that state must do it.
  • Call an attorney there. Give them a copy of your Certification of Trust. SayI need a deed that moves my property into my revocable living trust.
  • That property is not in your trust until that deed is filed.
Our turn

We file your deed with your county and email you the filed copy. Nothing for you to do until then.

Step 4Call your insurance and your mortgage company

Do this after we email you your filed deed.

The Hive Law Print these calls

Make these 3 calls. The words to say are written out for you.

Call 1 of 3

Call your home insurance agent

SayMy home is now owned by my living trust. Please add my trust to my policy.

  • Ask them to send you the change in writing.
  • Do the same for an umbrella policy or a flood policy, if you have one.
  • Still have the title insurance papers from when you bought your home? Call that company and ask:

AskDoes my policy still cover my home now that it is in my living trust?

Call 2 of 3

Call your mortgage companySkip this if your home is paid off.

SayI moved my home into my living trust. I still live there. Please note it on my loan.

  • Keep making your payments the same way.

Call 3 of 3

Call your county tax office

SayMy home is now in my living trust. What do you need from me to keep my homestead exemption?

  • Some counties ask for a short form.

Only open this if it fits you

I own a rental property
  • After the deed is filed, call the insurance agent for that rental. SayThis property is now owned by my living trust. Please add my trust to the policy.

Step 5Funding InstructionsMove your accounts

Do this after you sign.

The Hive Law Print the Funding Instructions

Your trust only works for things that are in it. This step puts your accounts in it.

Goes into your trust

Bank and investment accounts

Your Blueprint lists the accounts you told us about and what to do with each one. You choose which accounts to move.

  • Go to your bank. Bring your photo ID and your Certification of Trust. That is the short paper that proves your trust is real. You do not need to bring the whole trust.

SayPlease change this account into the name of my trust.

Our bank account guide has the answers to what the bank will ask.

Good to know
  • If they ask for a tax number, give your own Social Security number.
  • Your money stays yours. You use the account the same way as before.
Uses a form

Retirement accounts and life insurance

StopNever change an IRA or 401(k) into your trust's name.

These use a beneficiary form. Use our Beneficiary Form Guide.

Beneficiary Form Guide

Step 6Put your papers away

Do this after you sign.

The Hive Law
  • Keep your signed papers together at home, in a fireproof box or safe.
  • Tell the people in charge of your plan where the papers are.
  • Call your doctor's office.AskHow do I get you a copy of my Health Care Directive and HIPAA form?
  • Give a copy to the people you named to make health choices.
  • Your trustees get a free call with us, any time, even years from now. It is called the Orientation Call. We explain their job.
  • Want certain people to get certain things, like a ring or a watch? Write it on your Personal Property Memorandum. Sign and date it any time after you sign your trust. No witness. No notary. Keep it with your trust.

That is everything.

Still stuck?

Read the step again first. Most answers are on this page. If you still need help, reply to our email.

If you need to talk, pick a time here

The Hive LawFind this page online: www.thehivelaw.com/next-steps/