Free Certificate of Trust Form

A certificate of trust (also called a certification of trust in some states) is a legal document that confirms a trust exists and shows that a trustee has authority to act under the trust.

It is designed to share only what a bank, title company, or other third party needs to know. In other words, it helps you prove authority without handing over the full trust document and its private terms.

In most cases, the trustee prepares and signs the certificate. However, in some situations, the person who created the trust may also sign it when the trust is first created.

You may be asked for a certificate of trust when you are acting as a trustee and a third party needs proof that you can complete a specific task.

Common requests include:

• Opening or managing financial accounts held by the trust.
• Buying, selling, or refinancing property owned by the trust.
• Transferring assets, such as brokerage accounts, vehicles, or valuables.
• Confirming who can sign on behalf of the trust.

If the trust owns real estate, your county recorder may require a recorded certificate (or a similar recorded summary) before a title company will complete the transaction.

A clear, accurate certificate makes it easier for organizations to accept your authority. Use these steps to complete your form as the trustee.

Step 1 – Identify the Trust

List the trust’s legal name, the date it was created, and the state where it was established. This gives third parties enough information to identify the trust without exposing private terms.

Step 2 – Name the Key People

Include the name of the person who created the trust (often called the grantor or settlor) and the name and address of each current trustee.

If the trust has multiple trustees, name each trustee so it is clear who has authority to act.

Step 3 – Confirm Trustee Powers

Summarize the authority the trustee has for the situation at hand. For example, you may confirm that the trustee can open accounts, manage trust property, or sign documents for a sale.

Keep this section focused. A certificate of trust is meant to confirm authority, not disclose who inherits assets or how distributions work.

Step 4 – Add Helpful Trust Details

Depending on what you are doing, you may also include:

• Whether the trust is revocable or irrevocable.
• A trust tax ID number (if the trust uses one for banking or reporting).
• The address of any real estate owned by the trust (if the certificate is used for a property transaction).

Step 5 – List Signing Details

Add the date of signing and confirm which trustee or trustees will sign. If only some trustees will sign, list the signing trustees by name.

Step 6 – Notarize and Add Witnesses If Required

A certificate of trust is often signed in front of a notary public. Some states also require witness signatures.

If you need a separate notarization section, you can attach a notary acknowledgment.

Many states have laws that explain what a certificate of trust should include and how it must be signed. These rules often follow a model framework (commonly called Uniform Trust Code Section 1013), although the exact requirements can vary.

If you are unsure what your state requires, select your state above and confirm the signing rules with your state statute or the organization requesting the form.

Examples of state laws (for reference):

• California Probate Code Section 18100.5
• Florida Statutes Section 736.1017
• Texas Property Code Section 114.086
• Tennessee Code Section 35-15-1013
• Vermont Statutes Section 14A:1013

A certificate of trust is often used to protect privacy. It typically does not include the trust’s “who gets what” terms.