Maryland Certificate of Trust

County or Independent City Specific Legal Forms Validated as recently as April 6, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Select County or Independent City Below

County or Independent City Forms

About the Maryland Certificate of Trust

Select County or Independent City from List

How to Use This Form

Select your county or independent city from the list on the left
Download the county or independent city-specific form
Fill in the required information
Have the document notarized if required
Record with your county or independent city recorder's office

What Others Like You Are Saying

— Ronald M.

"Easy to use but can't seem to find LOGOUT control????"

— Mary S.

"Wonderful!! So easy to locate the file you need and printing is a snap!! Thank you so much for this …"

— Robert H.

"I am very pleased with your service."

— Moving Forward V.

"Great Service!"

— Michael M.

"Easy to follow directions and instructions to properly and legally fill-in the Deed that I requested…"

How to Execute a Maryland Certification of Trust

The certification of trust is codified under 14.5--910 of the Estates and Trusts Article of the Maryland Code. The document is an abbreviation of a trust instrument, verifying the trust's existence and the trustee's authority to enter into the impending transaction.

A certification of trust contains only information essential to the transaction at hand; for example, it need not provide the dispositive terms of the trust, so the identities of trust beneficiaries remain private. The rights of certain persons to obtain the trust instrument are reserved for the instances stated under Md. Code Ann., Estates and Trusts 14.5-910(h).

The information required in a Maryland certification of trust includes a statement that the trust exists, the date of the trust instrument under which it was formed, and the identity of the trust's settlor. A settlor is defined under the Maryland Trust Act as "a person...that creates or contributes property to a trust" and can include more than one person (Md. Code Ann., Estates and Trusts 14.5-103(v)).

The certificate includes the name and address of each acting trustee at the time of the certificate's execution, as well as a description of the powers the trustee has related to the pending transaction. For example, if a certificate of trust is presented by a trustee wishing to execute a trustee's deed, a power of sale should be referenced. Recipients of the certificate can request, in addition, the excerpts from the trust instrument which designate the trustee and establish the relevant powers (Md. Code Ann., Estates and Trusts 14.5-910(e)).

The document also identifies the trust as either revocable or irrevocable and, if the former, the identity of anyone having a power to revoke the trust. For living trusts, the settlor generally retains this power. In the case of co-trustees, the certificate tells which can authenticate documents and whether all or fewer are required in exercising trustee powers. Any trustee may sign a certification of trust in the presence of a notary public.

The taxpayer identification number (TIN) of the trust is required, unless this number is the Social Security number (SSN) of the settlor. Irrevocable trusts are assigned their own taxpayer ID, separate from a SSN.

Finally, the certificate contains the name by which the trust is to hold title to assets, including real property. Where the certificate is used in transactions involving real property, a legal description of the property subject to the trust should be included. The certificate must contain a statement "that the trust has not been revoked, modified, or amended in a manner that would cause the representations in the certification of trust to be incorrect" (Md. Code Ann., Estates and Trusts 14.5-910(c)).

Recipients of a certificate may rely on the correctness of its content, and are protected under Md. Code Ann., Estates and Trusts 14.5-910(f).

Contact an attorney with any questions regarding Maryland trusts and certifications of trust, as trust law can quickly become complicated and each situation is unique.

(Maryland COT Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

How to Use This Form

Select your county or independent city from the list above
Download the county or independent city-specific form
Fill in the required information
Have the document notarized if required
Record with your county or independent city recorder's office

What Others Like You Are Saying

— Ronald M.

"Easy to use but can't seem to find LOGOUT control????"

— Mary S.

"Wonderful!! So easy to locate the file you need and printing is a snap!! Thank you so much for this …"

— Robert H.

"I am very pleased with your service."

— Moving Forward V.

"Great Service!"

— Michael M.

"Easy to follow directions and instructions to properly and legally fill-in the Deed that I requested…"

Common Uses for Certificate of Trust

Convey property as directed by a will or court order
Provide proof of trust existence without disclosing trust terms
Distribute inherited property among multiple heirs
Distribute real estate to beneficiaries of an estate
Provide evidence that a trustee has authority to transact

Compare other Maryland deed forms and documents

Quitclaim Deed Gift Deed Warranty Deed Special Warranty Deed Grant Deed Correction Deed Easement Deed Termination of Easement Deed of Trust and Promissory Note CERTIFICATE OF RELEASE for Deed of Trust or Mortgage APPOINTMENT OF SUBSTITUTE TRUSTEE(s) - for Deed of Trust Assignment of Deed of Trust - Mortgage Personal Financial Power of Attorney Statutory Form Statutory Limited Power of Attorney for Real Property Land Installment Contract Memorandum of Land Installment Contract Release of Memorandum of Land Installment Contract Trustee Deed Personal Representative Deed Notice to Owner Notice of Mechanics Lien Mechanics Lien Complaint Mechanics Lien Release Conditional Lien Waiver on Progress Payment Unconditional Lien Waiver on Progress Payment Conditional Lien Waiver on Final Payment Unconditional Lien Waiver on Final Payment Disclaimer of Interest

Important: County or Independent City-Specific Forms

Our certificate of trust forms are specifically formatted for each county or independent city in Maryland.

After selecting your county or independent city, you'll receive forms that meet all local recording requirements, ensuring your documents will be accepted without delays or rejection fees.

Back to Maryland Forms