Tompkins County Memorandum of Trust Form

Last validated October 14, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Formatted for recording in Tompkins County, for property anywhere in the county: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Brooktondale, Dryden, Etna, Freeville, Groton, Ithaca, Jacksonville, Lansing and 4 more.

$3997
One-time purchase. No subscription.
  • 2 documents included
  • Immediate PDF download
  • Formatting guarantee

Tompkins County Memorandum of Trust Form

Tompkins County Memorandum of Trust Form

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

Document last validated 10/14/2026
Tompkins County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Trust

Tompkins County Completed Example of the Memorandum of Trust

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document last validated 10/1/2026

All 2 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Tompkins County Clerk

Address:
320 N. Tioga St
Ithaca, New York 14850

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Phone: (607) 274-5431

Recording Tips for Tompkins County:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Ask about accepted payment methods when you call ahead
  • Ask for certified copies if you need them for other transactions

Cities and Jurisdictions in Tompkins County

Properties in any of these areas use Tompkins County forms:

  • Brooktondale
  • Dryden
  • Etna
  • Freeville
  • Groton
  • Ithaca
  • Jacksonville
  • Lansing
  • Mc Lean
  • Newfield
  • Slaterville Springs
  • Trumansburg

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Tompkins County

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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 Tompkins County?

Recording fees in Tompkins County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (607) 274-5431 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Using a New York Memorandum of Trust

In New York, trustees of personal trusts use a memorandum of trust to certify the existence of a trust and their authority to act on behalf of the trust. The memorandum is used in place of the actual trust document and provides only essential information about the trust for lending institutions or other third parties. In this way, information that may be personal in nature, such as the designated beneficiaries under the trust, is kept confidential.

The memorandum is executed and signed by the grantor of the trust under the trust instrument, as well as the trust's formal name and date of origination. It identifies the trustee and any successor trustees with power to act on behalf of the trust.

The difference between a declaration of trust and a trust agreement, as designated in the memorandum of trust document, is the grantor's relationship to the trustee. If the trustee and the grantor are the same person and the grantor controls trust assets, the trust falls under a declaration of trust. If the grantor and the trustee are separate people and the trustee controls the trust assets, trust is under a trust agreement [1].

The distinction between a declaration of trust and a trust agreement also affects the name by which the trust takes title to real property as a grantee. In the following example, "John Doe," under a declaration of trust, serves as both grantor and trustee: "John Doe, trustee under declaration of trust dated mm/dd/yyyy." Under a trust agreement, the grantor name is included as well: "John Doe under agreement with Robert Grantor dated mm/dd/yyyy" [1].

All recorded documents relating to real property in the State of New York are required to include a physical description of the property, as well as the section, lot, block, and unit numbers.

[1] https://www.treasurydirect.gov/indiv/planning/plan_estate_trustsq_a.pdf

(New York MOT Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Tompkins County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the county recording office listed above.

This Memorandum of Trust meets all recording requirements specific to Tompkins County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Tompkins 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 Tompkins County Memorandum 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 - ( 4,847 Reviews )

Mary H. 5 out of 5 stars

Your site was very informative and I was able to instantly and easily download the documents that I needed. I could not be happier with your service. Thank You Mary Harju

Reply from Staff

Thank you Mary, we really appreciate your feedback.

Patricia W. 5 out of 5 stars

Had to have help because unable to put phone number in your format. Daughter figured a way around the problem. I am 80 years old but capable of filling out simple forms but not when the format creates problems.

Reply from Staff

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

Gertrude H. 5 out of 5 stars

I used this form and guide a couple years ago and found it helpful and easy to fill out. Had good results at the Recorder's Office. Would recommend Deeds.com.

Reply from Staff

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

Beverly D. 5 out of 5 stars

Deeds.com was a great experience in helping me get some important documents recorded.I would recommend them to anyone wanting documents recorded in a timely manner.

Reply from Staff

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

Linda T. 5 out of 5 stars

All downloaded now I just have to fill them out. Will let you know how it does. Thanks for the service. Linda

Reply from Staff

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

Sherri P. 3 out of 5 stars

I thought it was easy, but I wish it were faster. I uploaded my document Monday night (after 5pm) and got my invoice the next morning Tuesday paid it right away. and my document was not sent to me as recorded until Wednesday morning even though it was recorded the day earlier at 8:30am. So there was a delay of almost 24 hours letting me know that my document was recorded. So if they could speed that up so that we knew exactly when it got recorded immediately I would give it a million stars

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Jermaine H. 5 out of 5 stars

Great informative site.... helped me find exactly what I was looking for. DETAILED information on my property!

Reply from Staff

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

Desmond L. 5 out of 5 stars

Easy access

Reply from Staff

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

Rosemary S. 5 out of 5 stars

It was quick and so very easy. Very detailed information. Love the app.

Reply from Staff

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

Lana B. 5 out of 5 stars

Was very helpful!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Peter M. 5 out of 5 stars

Quick and complete. Thanks!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

David W. 5 out of 5 stars

Excellent assistance provided by your forms, guide and example.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Jerry G. 2 out of 5 stars

I found the document confusing and I don't think I can use it.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We recognize that do-it-yourself legal documents may not be suitable for everyone. We always advise all our customers to seek assistance from a legal professional familiar with their specific situation for any form they do not completely understand. For your convenience, we have canceled your order and processed a refund.

Carol T. 5 out of 5 stars

Very east process. Good job!

Reply from Staff

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

Vallie D. 5 out of 5 stars

Very easy to navigate website. Quick filing, great communication. Saved me hundreds of dollars vs. filing through the escrow service

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your kind words Vallie, glad we could help. Have an amazing day!