Houston County Certificate of Trust Form
Last validated October 14, 2026 by our Forms Development TeamFormatted for recording in Houston County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Brownsville, Caledonia, Eitzen, Hokah, Houston, La Crescent, Spring Grove.
- 3 documents included
- Immediate PDF download
- Formatting guarantee
Houston County Certificate of Trust Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Houston County Certificate of Trust Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Houston County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Immediate Download • Secure Checkout
Additional Minnesota and Houston County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Houston County Recorder
Caledonia , Minnesota 55921-0029
Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday
Phone: (507) 725-5813
Recording Tips for Houston County:
- Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
- Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
- Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
- Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned
- Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
Cities and Jurisdictions in Houston County
Properties in any of these areas use Houston County forms:
- Brownsville
- Caledonia
- Eitzen
- Hokah
- Houston
- La Crescent
- Spring Grove
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Houston County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Houston County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Houston County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Houston County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Houston County you only need to order once.
What do I need to use these forms?
The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. The free Adobe Acrobat Reader is recommended, and most PDF apps also work. You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.
Are there any recurring fees?
No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
How much does it cost to record in Houston County?
Recording fees in Houston County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (507) 725-5813 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
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)
Important: Your property must be located in Houston County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.
This Certificate of Trust meets all recording requirements specific to Houston County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Houston County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.
Save Time and Money
Get your Houston 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.
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The Virginia Transfer on Death Deed and the Virginia Transfer on Death Beneficiary Affidavit are separate documents and are offered individually because many customers only need one, depending on their situation. In your case, the affidavit was later ordered separately.
Regarding the page numbering (“Page 1 of ___”), that field is intentionally left blank. The total number of pages is not known until the document is finalized, signed, notarized, and all attachments (such as exhibits or legal descriptions) are included. It is standard practice to complete that portion by hand at execution so the final page count accurately reflects the recorded document.
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