Can You Put a DVC Membership in a Trust?
Yes, you can. A DVC membership is real property under Florida law, which means it can be titled in a trust just like any other piece of real estate. Many DVC owners choose to hold their membership in a revocable living trust for estate planning reasons, and at DVC Sales we process trust transactions regularly on both the buying and selling side.
The process isn't complicated, but it does have a few documentation requirements that don't apply to individual purchases. Here's what you need to know whether you're buying, selling, or thinking about transferring an existing membership into a trust.
Why DVC Owners Use Trusts
The main reason people title real property in a revocable living trust is to avoid probate. When you die, assets titled in your name individually go through the probate process before they can pass to your heirs. That process takes time and costs money. Assets held in a trust pass directly to the named beneficiaries without probate, which is often faster and less expensive for your family.
Some owners also use trusts for privacy. Real property transfers are public record in Florida, but trust ownership can keep ownership details less visible in public filings. And for families with complex situations, such as blended families or owners who want to specify exactly how the membership gets used or distributed after death, a trust gives you much more control than a simple will.
None of this changes how the membership functions day to day. The trustee makes reservations, banks points, and manages the membership exactly as an individual owner would. Disney treats trust ownership the same as individual ownership for booking and membership purposes.
Purchasing a DVC Resale Contract in a Trust
If you want to purchase a DVC resale contract through a trust, the process at DVC Sales works essentially the same as a standard purchase. You make an offer, negotiate terms, sign the purchase agreement, and proceed through closing. The main difference is in how the purchase agreement is written and what the title company needs from you.
The purchase agreement will list the trust as the purchaser rather than you individually. For this, you'll need to provide the full legal name of the trust exactly as it appears in the trust document. The date the trust was established is also needed, since that's how trust documents are formally identified.
The title company will ask for a copy of the trust's first page and the signature page. They don't need the entire document, and you don't need to share the full contents of your estate plan. The first and signature pages confirm the trust is valid, when it was created, and who the authorized signers are. That's all they need to process the closing.
Disney will then register the membership under the trust name. The trustee or trustees named in the document will have full control over the membership, including reservation rights and all account management through Disney's member services. If there are co-trustees, both names may appear on the membership.
One thing to be aware of: some resale benefits restrictions apply regardless of how a contract is titled. Contracts purchased on the resale market have certain limitations on Membership Extra perks, and titling in a trust doesn't change that. The restrictions apply to the contract itself, not to the ownership structure.
Selling a DVC Contract That Is Titled in a Trust
If you're a seller and your DVC membership is currently held in a trust, you can list it with DVC Sales just as any other seller would. The listing process is the same. The differences show up in the paperwork.
The purchase agreement and the deed will reference the trust as the seller. You'll sign as trustee, not in your individual capacity. If there are multiple trustees, all authorized trustees will likely need to sign. The trust document governs who has signing authority, so the title company will want to confirm that before the closing documents are prepared.
They'll request the same documentation as they would for a trust purchase: the first page and signature page of the trust document. This confirms the trust is valid and that the person signing has authority to do so.
This is worth gathering early in the listing process so there are no delays once you're under contract. Have the documents ready before you list, not after you accept an offer.
Transferring an Existing DVC Membership Into a Trust
If you already own a DVC membership in your individual name and want to move it into a trust, this is a separate process from the resale market. It's more like an internal transfer than a sale.
The process involves preparing a new deed that transfers the property from you as an individual to you as trustee of your trust. Because it's still changing ownership in Disney's system, even though the beneficial owner is the same person, Disney charges their standard $500 Administration Fee for the transfer.
This is not something DVC Sales handles directly, since it's not a resale transaction. It's a matter for your estate planning attorney and a real estate attorney familiar with Florida timeshare law. Your attorney will prepare the deed, and the title company will handle the recording and the Disney notification.
If you're thinking about doing this, talk to your estate planning attorney first. They can confirm whether a trust makes sense for your specific situation and walk you through the implications for your overall estate plan. Some people find that a simple beneficiary designation or a joint tenancy with right of survivorship accomplishes the same goal without the complexity of a trust transfer.
Costs for Trust Transactions at DVC Sales
For resale transactions where a trust is involved on either the buyer's or seller's side, the standard costs apply. Purchasers pay Disney's $500 Administration Fee and the title company's closing costs. Sellers pay DVC Sales' 6.9% commission and Disney's $150 Estoppel Fee.
Trust ownership doesn't add extra fees to the transaction itself. The only additional requirement is the trust documentation for the title company, which is a standard administrative request and doesn't cost anything to provide.
If you have specific questions about purchasing or selling through a trust, our team at DVC Sales is glad to talk through the documentation requirements with you before you list or make an offer. We've handled enough trust transactions to walk you through exactly what to expect. Reach us at our contact page.
You can also browse current DVC resale listings and learn more about the overall resale process at our how DVC works page. And if you want to understand how DVC membership functions after the purchase, our DVC resorts guide covers the home resort booking advantage and what ownership looks like in practice.
