Lake County Certificate of Trust Form

Last validated June 17, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Lake County Certificate of Trust Form

Lake County Certificate of Trust Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 6/12/2026
Lake County Certificate of Trust Guide

Lake County Certificate of Trust Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 6/17/2026
Lake County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Lake County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 5/8/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Lake County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Lake County Recorder

Address:
Courthouse - 601 Third Ave, Rm 201
Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

Phone: (218) 834-8347

Recording Tips for Lake County:
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers

Cities and Jurisdictions in Lake County

Properties in any of these areas use Lake County forms:

  • Beaver Bay
  • Finland
  • Isabella
  • Knife River
  • Silver Bay
  • Two Harbors

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Lake County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Lake 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 Lake County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Lake 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 Lake 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. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). 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 Lake County?

Recording fees in Lake County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (218) 834-8347 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 Lake County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Certificate of Trust meets all recording requirements specific to Lake County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Lake 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 Lake 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 - ( 4743 Reviews )

Robert L.

August 27th, 2020

Fairly easy to use process and somewhat reasonably priced. Printed guide and sample filled in can be very helpful, too.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Adam P.

September 17th, 2020

So far so good I am happy with the service and the timeliness of the recordings. One of the only recording services that allows for the use of credit card.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Elaine S.

April 19th, 2021

Being new at this, the system was somewhat difficult to understand at first. It took a couple of tries before I got it. It seems to be somewhat slow as well. However, it's a wonderful idea to have documents recorded from the comfort of your home, especially in the times that we are in with COVID19. I definitely don't mind paying the fee which I thought was reasonable.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Judith D.

November 25th, 2022

If my availability does not coincide with your business hours it should not prevent me from uploading my documents and making payment. You should allow people to upload their documents at any time with the understanding that you will process them on your next business day.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Michelle R.

December 23rd, 2022

Fairly easy to use. Need to be able to find platts easy.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Deborah V.

July 26th, 2019

Helpful and informative.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Steve V.

February 16th, 2024

This service is an amazing time saver. No more trips to the recorder's office. Well worth the service fee.

Reply from Staff

We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!

Wes C.

March 26th, 2022

The forms are easy to use and the examples and guidance are easy to understand and follow.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

matthew h.

June 6th, 2022

Totally awesome. Useless waste of time looking anywhere else for real estate deed forms. All the stars!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Paul A.

October 27th, 2020

The website worked fast but the information was limited and the actual deed of trust was what i was looking for from the county --- the info was limited the website is fast and seemed accurate just limited the information I needed

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

DAVID E.

January 2nd, 2025

Very professional and knowledgeable. Great communication.

Reply from Staff

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!

Tyler B.

June 8th, 2022

Great!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Joanna L.

September 12th, 2019

This is a great tool. It is easy to use and saves me a lot of time.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Alan M.

December 3rd, 2021

The packet I downloaded was complete and useful, and process was not unduly opaque. However, I would have liked to download the whole packet, about 6 files, all at one go. Still, the forms provided the complete solution to my situation.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

carol g.

May 3rd, 2019

very good. got my info in minuetes. thank you

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback Carol, have a great day!