How Long Does It Take to Create a Living Trust Online? Complete Timeline 2025
⚡ Quick Answer
Creating a living trust online takes 20-30 minutes to complete the questionnaire. With attorney review and document delivery, you'll have your completed trust in 1-3 days.
Total time to complete trust (including funding): 1 week
Compare to traditional attorney: 4-8 weeks
Table of Contents
Thinking about creating a living trust online but wondering how long it will take? You're not alone. Time is one of the biggest concerns people have when considering online estate planning.
As an estate planning attorney with 25+ years of experience, I've created hundreds of living trusts both the traditional way (3-6 weeks) and online (1 week). This guide breaks down exactly how long each step takes so you know what to expect.
Quick Time Breakdown: Online Living Trust Timeline
| Phase | Your Time | Waiting Time | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Complete Questionnaire | 20-30 minutes | — | 20-30 min |
| 2. Attorney Review | — | 24-48 hours | 1-2 days |
| 3. Sign & Notarize | 30 minutes | — | 30 min |
| 4. Fund Trust | 2-4 hours | Varies by institution | 2-7 days |
| Total Time: | 3-10 days | ||
Your active time: 3-5 hours total
Waiting time: 3-7 days for processing
Phase 1: Trust Document Creation (20-30 Minutes)
This is the part where YOU do the work — but it's surprisingly quick and easy with modern online services.
What You'll Do:
- Log in and start questionnaire (1 minute)
- Enter personal information (3-5 minutes)
- Your name, address, date of birth
- Spouse information (if joint trust)
- Social Security numbers
- Choose trustees (2-3 minutes)
- Primary trustee (you)
- Successor trustee (takes over when you die)
- Alternate successor trustee
- Name beneficiaries (3-5 minutes)
- Who inherits when you die
- Percentages or specific gifts
- Alternate beneficiaries
- List assets (5-10 minutes)
- Real estate addresses
- Bank accounts
- Investment accounts
- Other valuable property
- Make special provisions (5-10 minutes)
- Minor children provisions
- Special needs considerations
- Specific gifts
- Pet trusts (if desired)
- Review and submit (2-5 minutes)
⏱️ Living Trust California Timeline:
- Simple estate: 15-20 minutes
- Average estate: 20-30 minutes
- Complex estate: 30-45 minutes
You can save and return anytime — no need to complete in one sitting!
Why It's So Fast:
- Smart forms: Questions adapt based on your answers
- Plain English: No legal jargon to decipher
- Guided process: Clear explanations for every question
- Auto-save: Your progress is saved automatically
- Skip irrelevant questions: Don't waste time on things that don't apply
Phase 2: Attorney Review (24-48 Hours)
After you submit your questionnaire, a licensed attorney reviews your trust for accuracy and legal compliance.
What Happens During Attorney Review:
- Completeness check: Ensure all required information is present
- Legal compliance: Verify trust meets California law requirements
- Consistency review: Check for contradictions or errors
- Asset review: Ensure proper asset listing and valuation
- Special provisions: Review custom provisions for enforceability
- Document preparation: Generate final trust documents
Timeline by Service:
- Living Trust California: 24-48 hours (attorney review included)
- LegalZoom: 3-5 business days (if you pay $199 for review)
- Trust & Will: No attorney review (documents generated immediately)
- Traditional Attorney: 2-4 weeks (includes multiple meetings)
⚠️ Attorney Review Matters
Services without attorney review (like Trust & Will) generate documents immediately, but they're not reviewed by an attorney. California probate courts found 42% of DIY trusts have critical errors.
Our service includes attorney review at no extra cost — ensuring your trust is legally sound.
Phase 3: Funding Your Trust (2-4 Hours Active Time)
Creating the trust document is just the first step. The most important part is funding — transferring your assets into the trust.
What You'll Do:
1. Real Estate (1-2 hours per property)
- Sign new deed transferring property to trust
- Get deed notarized ($15 in California)
- Record deed with county recorder ($50-100)
- Time: 1-2 hours active work, 1-2 weeks for recording
2. Bank Accounts (30-60 minutes per account)
- Visit bank or call customer service
- Provide trust documents
- Change account title to trust
- Time: 30-60 minutes per account, effective immediately
3. Investment Accounts (30-60 minutes per account)
- Contact brokerage firm
- Complete their trust transfer forms
- Provide trust certificate
- Time: 30-60 minutes per account, 1-2 weeks processing
4. Vehicles (Optional — 30 minutes)
- Visit DMV or complete online
- Transfer title to trust
- Time: 30 minutes (NOTE: not required in California)
5. Personal Property (15 minutes)
- Sign "Assignment of Personal Property" form (included in trust package)
- Transfers all personal property to trust
- Time: 15 minutes
⏱️ Total Funding Time:
- Simple (1 house, 2-3 accounts): 2-3 hours active time
- Average (1-2 properties, 4-6 accounts): 3-4 hours active time
- Complex (multiple properties, many accounts): 6-8 hours active time
Waiting time: 1-3 weeks for all transfers to process
Learn more: How to Fund Your California Living Trust
Total Timeline: Online vs Traditional Attorney
| Phase | Online Service | Traditional Attorney |
|---|---|---|
| Initial Meeting | None (online questionnaire) | 1-2 hours (schedule 1-2 weeks out) |
| Questionnaire/Intake | 20-30 minutes | 1-2 hours during meeting |
| Document Drafting | Automated (instant) | 1-2 weeks |
| Attorney Review | 24-48 hours | Included in drafting time |
| Review Meeting | None (documents sent digitally) | 1 hour (schedule 1 week out) |
| Revisions | Submit online, 24-48 hours | 1-2 weeks |
| Signing Meeting | None (sign at notary near you) | 1 hour (at attorney office) |
| Funding Assistance | Instructions provided, DIY | May help with deeds, still mostly DIY |
| Total Active Time: | ||
| 3-5 hours | 4-6 hours + travel time | |
| Total Calendar Time: | ||
| 1 week | 4-8 weeks | |
| Cost: | ||
| $400-500 | $2,000-5,000 | |
🚀 Speed Winner: Online Services
Online: 1 week total, 3-5 hours of your time
Attorney: 4-8 weeks total, 4-6 hours + travel time
You save 3-7 weeks with online services — and $1,500-4,500!
What Affects the Timeline?
Factors That Speed Things Up:
- ✅ Simple family structure (married couple, adult children)
- ✅ Straightforward assets (house, bank accounts)
- ✅ All information ready before you start
- ✅ Available during business hours to contact banks
- ✅ Organized records
Factors That Slow Things Down:
- ⏳ Complex family (blended family, special needs, disinheritance)
- ⏳ Business ownership
- ⏳ Out-of-state property
- ⏳ Multiple investment accounts
- ⏳ Missing information (have to look up account numbers, etc.)
- ⏳ Busy schedule (can't get to notary or bank quickly)
How to Speed Up the Process
Before You Start:
- Gather information:
- List of all assets with values
- Account numbers for banks and investments
- Property addresses and approximate values
- Names, addresses, DOB for all beneficiaries
- Social Security numbers
- Decide on trustees and beneficiaries (discuss with spouse if married)
- Find a notary near you (search "notary near me" or use your bank)
During Creation:
- Complete questionnaire in one sitting if possible (20-30 minutes)
- Submit during business hours for faster attorney review turnaround
- Check email regularly for attorney questions or document delivery
During Funding:
- Get notarization done immediately when you receive documents
- Contact all financial institutions same day to start funding
- Follow up regularly to ensure transfers are completed
- Use our provided checklist to track progress
💡 Pro Tip: Batch Your Tasks
Set aside one afternoon to handle all funding tasks at once:
- 9am: Get documents notarized
- 10am: Visit your bank
- 11am: Call your brokerage firm
- 2pm: Mail deed to county recorder
You'll have everything done in 4 hours instead of dragging it out over weeks.
Timeline Comparison by Service
| Service | Questionnaire | Attorney Review | Document Delivery | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living Trust CA | 20-30 min | 24-48 hours | Same day | 1-3 days |
| LegalZoom | 30-45 min | 3-5 days (if purchased) | Same day | 4-6 days |
| Trust & Will | 20 min | None | Instant | 20 minutes |
| Traditional Attorney | 1-2 hours | Included | 2-4 weeks | 4-8 weeks |
Note: Trust & Will is fastest but has NO attorney review. Speed isn't everything if your documents have errors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I complete everything in one day?
You can complete the questionnaire in one day (20-30 minutes), but attorney review takes 24-48 hours. Absolute fastest timeline: Complete questionnaire Monday morning, receive documents Tuesday afternoon, get notarized Tuesday, start funding Wednesday = 2-3 days minimum.
What if I don't have all the information ready?
No problem! Our online system saves your progress automatically. You can start, gather information, and return later. Most people take 1-2 sessions to complete.
How long does funding take?
Your active time is 2-4 hours, but waiting for financial institutions to process transfers takes 1-3 weeks. Good news: Your trust is legally valid as soon as signed and notarized — funding just ensures it works as intended.
Is online really faster than an attorney?
Yes, dramatically faster. Online: 1 week total. Traditional attorney: 4-8 weeks. The difference is:
- No scheduling delays (multiple meetings 1-2 weeks apart)
- No waiting for attorney drafting (1-2 weeks)
- No travel time to office
- Automated document generation
What's the downside of faster service?
The main "downside" is less hand-holding. You don't meet face-to-face with an attorney. However:
- Our documents ARE attorney-reviewed (just not in person)
- Support is available by phone/email
- Clear instructions guide you through everything
- 80% of California families don't need in-person attorney meetings
Can I rush the process if I'm in a hurry?
If you have an urgent need (upcoming surgery, travel, etc.), contact us at (818) 291-6217. We can often expedite attorney review for urgent situations.
How long before my trust is "active"?
Your trust is legally effective as soon as you sign it in front of a notary. However, it doesn't DO anything until you fund it (transfer assets). Most people have a fully functional trust within 1-2 weeks.
Create Your California Living Trust in 1 Week
Why wait 4-8 weeks with a traditional attorney when you can have your trust done in 1 week?
Complete Timeline:
- ✓ 20-30 minutes: Complete questionnaire
- ✓ 24-48 hours: Attorney review
- ✓ 2-4 hours: Funding
Total: 1 week, 3-5 hours of your time
Get Started Now — Just $400-500Attorney-reviewed • Save 3-7 weeks • Save $1,500-4,500
Key Takeaways: Online Living Trust Timeline
- Your active time: 3-5 hours total (20-30 min questionnaire + 2-4 hours funding)
- Total calendar time: 1 week (vs. 4-8 weeks with attorney)
- Attorney review: 24-48 hours (included in our service at no extra cost)
- Funding is the longest part: 2-4 hours active work, 1-3 weeks for processing
- You can save and return anytime — no pressure to complete in one sitting
- Speed doesn't sacrifice quality — attorney-reviewed documents at online speeds
The bottom line: Creating a living trust online is 4-8x faster than traditional attorneys, saves you $1,500-4,500, and produces the same quality attorney-reviewed documents.