Dakota County Certificate of Trust Form (Minnesota)
All Dakota County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:
Certificate of Trust Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Included Dakota County compliant document last validated/updated 11/29/2024
Certificate of Trust Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Dakota County compliant document last validated/updated 11/11/2024
Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
Included Dakota County compliant document last validated/updated 11/11/2024
The following Minnesota and Dakota County supplemental forms are included as a courtesy with your order:
When using these Certificate of Trust forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Dakota County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:
Property Taxation & Records
Government Center - 1590 Highway 55, Hastings, Minnesota 55033
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30 M-F
Phone: (651) 438-4355
Local jurisdictions located in Dakota County include:
- Burnsville
- Castle Rock
- Farmington
- Hampton
- Hastings
- Inver Grove Heights
- Lakeville
- Mendota
- Randolph
- Rosemount
- Saint Paul
- South Saint Paul
- Vermillion
How long does it take to get my forms?
Forms are available immediately after submitting payment.
How do I get my forms, are they emailed?
Immediately after you submit payment, the Dakota County forms you order will be available for download directly from your account. You can then download the forms to your computer. If you do not already have an account, one will be created for you as part of the order process, and your login details will be provided to you. If you encounter any issues accessing your forms, please reach out to our support team for assistance. Forms are NOT emailed to you.
What does "validated/updated" mean?
This indicates the most recent date when at least one of the following occurred:
- Updated: The document was updated or changed to remain compliant.
- Validated: The document was examined by an attorney or staff, or it was successfully recorded in Dakota County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Dakota County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Dakota County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.
Can the Certificate of Trust forms be re-used?
Yes. You can re-use the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have more than one property in Dakota County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Dakota County.
What are supplemental forms?
Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Minnesota or Dakota County. These could be tax related, informational, or even as simple as a coversheet. Supplemental forms are provided for free with your order where available.
What type of files are the forms?
All of our Dakota County Certificate of Trust forms are PDFs. You will need to have or get Adobe Reader to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.
Do I need any special software to use these forms?
You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.
Do I have to enter all of my property information online?
No. The blank forms are downloaded to your computer and you fill them out there, at your convenience.
Can I save the completed form, email it to someone?
Yes, you can save your deed form at any point with your information in it. The forms can also be emailed, blank or complete, as attachments.
Are there any recurring fees involved?
No. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
The certificate of trust is codified under the Minnesota Trust Code at Minn. Stat. 501C.1013.
This document is an abstract of the trust instrument setting forth "fewer than all of the provisions . . . and any amendments to the instrument," and contains only essential information relevant to the transaction for which it is being presented (Minn. Stat. 501C.1013, Subd. 1). It "serves to document the existence of the trust, the identity of the trustees, the powers of the trustees and any limitations on those powers, and other matters the certificate of trust sets out, as though the full trust instrument had been recorded or presented" (Subd. 4).
Presented to a recipient in situations regarding personal property, or filed with the county recorder in situations regarding real property, a certificate of trust is "prima facie proof as to matters contained in it" (Subd. 4).
A certificate is valid when executed by settlor or trustee "any time after the execution or creation of a trust" (Subd. 1). The basic content requirements include the name of the trust; the date of the trust instrument; the name and address of each acting trustee; the number of trustees required to act; and the powers of the trustee relevant to the transaction at hand. The certificate also declares whether the trust has terminated or the trust instrument has been revoked (Subd. 1 (1-6)).
For use in real property transactions, the certificate requires the name of each settlor and original trustee, along with a specific statement relating to the authority of the trustee and any restrictions on the trustee's power "to sell, convey, pledge, mortgage, lease, or transfer title to any interest in real property" (Subd. 2). Transactions affecting real property may also require an affidavit of trustee under Minn. Stat. 501C.1014.
The representations contained within the certificate are made by the executing trustee or settlor under oath before a public notary and as such the executing party ensure there are no provisions in the trust instrument or subsequent amendments to limit the power of the trustee in the transaction or "to exercise any other power identified in the certificate" (Subd. 1).
Contact an attorney with any questions regarding trusts or certificates of trust, as each situation is unique.
(Minnesota COT Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Dakota County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.
Save Time and Money
Get your Dakota County Certificate of Trust form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.
4.8 out of 5 - ( 4440 Reviews )
Ben C.
December 8th, 2024
Easy and Quick,Thanks
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Julie Z.
December 7th, 2024
Just getting started with this process, but I was delighted to find this resource to speed up the decision making. Excellent! Very helpful!
Thank you for your positive words! We’re thrilled to hear about your experience.
Shane J.
December 5th, 2024
I use deeds.com for all of my document filing needs. The amount of time and money saved on making trips to the auditor's office is well worth the nominal fee that is charged. I highly recommend deeds.com!
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
Elizabeth B.
February 3rd, 2020
Excellent product! Easy to fill out, complete directions. I highly recommend.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Jane D.
February 5th, 2021
Very easy to navigate and we get exactly what we need, when we need it! Also, they keep Tra k of previous purchases, so you don't have to repurchase! It's great!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
LINDA J M.
November 18th, 2019
NO PROBLEMS. I LIKE THE DEED DOCUMENT AND INSTRUCTIONS. MADE IT EASY.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Kristopher K.
October 22nd, 2021
Process is easy but system would not accept 3 different credit cards on first day. No phone number to call. Sent message and response was all 3 cards must have been declined. However, next day one of those cards went through with no problem.
Thank you for your feedback. Unfortunately we have no control over which payment get approved or declined.
Abigail Frances B.
December 28th, 2018
Thanks for the easy download, clear instructions, good price- I'm looking forward to filling them out.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
JOHN R.
March 15th, 2023
This is an Outstanding Website for easy access in expediting my property investment needs. Thank you for this much needed online service.
Thank you!
Mark C.
November 29th, 2023
WOW! I am so pleased the County Registrar’s office recommended Deeds.com. From start to a very quick finish Deeds.com worked to ensure my documents were correct and they immediately filed them. The Warranty Deed was accepted by the County and registered within a hour. Deeds.com’s communication was superb. I will use this handy resource every time I am in need.
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
Marilyn T.
June 30th, 2020
This is an extremely user friendly site! I had been searching the internet for days for the proper Gift Deed document. I had no idea that my state, the great state of Mississippi had their own site. I am truly looking forward to using this site for additional available documents. Many more blessings to the creator of this site! Keep them coming!
Thank You!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Juanita B.
November 12th, 2020
Very easy and fast transaction. Thank you for complete set of forms needed for property transfer.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Sidney H.
August 3rd, 2022
Fabulous resource! They provide everything you need at an extremely reasonable price.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Samantha W.
March 5th, 2022
Great place to get the forms you need. The instructions were clear and made it easy to complete. Pricing was great, especially compared to similar providers.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Joice W G.
May 5th, 2019
Easy to use and able to individualize, which was important since I needed to print more than one doc. I just wish I had an option for a less expensive purchase - seemed like a lot for just a couple docs.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!