If you’re a Disney Vacation Club (DVC) owner and also have a revocable living trust, one smart estate planning move you might not have considered is transferring your DVC membership into the name of your trust. While this may sound like a complex legal maneuver, it’s actually a common and practical step that offers peace of mind and long-term benefits for you and your loved ones.
Here’s a closer look at why you should consider it, what the process involves, and the pros and cons.
Why Put Your DVC in a Trust?
A revocable living trust is a legal tool used to manage your assets during your lifetime and distribute them after your death—without the need for probate. When you own assets like real estate, investment accounts, or timeshares such as DVC, placing them into your trust allows those assets to be smoothly passed on according to your wishes.
Your DVC membership is a real estate interest (a deeded real property in most cases), and like any other property, it can become tangled in probate if not properly titled. By placing it in your trust, you help avoid court proceedings and make it easier for your trustee to manage or transfer your membership when the time comes.
Key Benefits
- Avoiding Probate
Probate is a legal process that can be time-consuming and costly. By putting your DVC interest into a trust, your heirs can bypass probate entirely, saving them money and stress. - Streamlined Management
If you become incapacitated, your successor trustee can immediately manage your DVC membership on your behalf without needing a court order. - Clear Succession
The trust outlines exactly who will receive your DVC points or interest. This avoids family conflict or confusion over ownership. - Privacy
Trusts are private documents. Unlike probate records, which are public, your trust’s contents and distribution stay private.
How to Transfer DVC into a Trust
Transferring your DVC membership into your trust’s name isn’t difficult, but it does involve a few specific steps:
- Contact Disney Vacation Club
DVC handles these transfers through its title services. You’ll need to request a “trust transfer” and provide details such as your trust’s name and the date it was created. - Prepare Documentation
You’ll likely need to submit a copy of your trust’s certificate of trust or relevant pages showing who the trustees are and their authority. - Work With a Title Company or Attorney
Disney may use their preferred title company or allow you to use your own. An attorney familiar with estate planning and timeshare law can ensure everything is done correctly. - Sign the New Deed
A new deed will be prepared transferring ownership from your name to your trust’s name. This deed must be notarized and recorded with the appropriate county office. - Fees and Processing Time
Expect to pay a processing fee (often a few hundred dollars) and allow several weeks for the transfer to be completed and recorded.
Things to Keep in Mind
- Does Your Trust Allow It?
Not all trusts are structured the same. Make sure your trust can own timeshare property, and check whether any special provisions are needed for your DVC membership. - Successor Trustee Instructions
Leave clear guidance in your trust documents about how your successor trustee should handle the DVC—whether to keep it in the family, sell it, or rent points.
Final Thoughts
Putting your DVC membership into your trust is a proactive step that ensures your Disney vacations—and the legacy they represent—stay protected for the next generation. While it does take a bit of paperwork, the long-term benefits in terms of flexibility, control, and family harmony can be well worth it.
If you’re unsure where to start, talk to your estate planning attorney and contact DVC Member Services. Planning today means more magic for tomorrow.