Pennsylvania Forms

Philadelphia County Certificate of Trust Form

Philadelphia County Certificate of Trust Form

Philadelphia County Certificate of Trust Form

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

Document Last Validated 5/30/2025
Philadelphia County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Philadelphia County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 8/6/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Records Dept - Recording Div
Address:
City Hall 1400 JFK Blvd., Rm 111
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19129

Hours: 8:00 to 2:00 M-F

Phone: (215) 686-2260

Recording Tips for Philadelphia County:
  • Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Verify the recording date if timing is critical for your transaction
  • Bring multiple forms of payment in case one isn't accepted

Cities and Jurisdictions in Philadelphia County

Properties in any of these areas use Philadelphia County forms:

  • Philadelphia

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Philadelphia County

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Philadelphia County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia County?

Recording fees in Philadelphia County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (215) 686-2260 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Find the laws regarding certificates of trust at section 7790.3 of the Pennsylvania Statutes.

A trustee is a person or entity who holds title to a trust's assets on behalf of a settlor. Trustees use an official document called a certificate of trust to validate the trust's existence and confirm their authority to act on its behalf.

In order to facilitate transactions dealing with real property in a trust, lenders may require the trustee to furnish a certificate of trust. Third parties may also request a certificate to confirm the trustee has the authority, for example, to transfer real property out of the trust and to them.

The certificate presents essential information about the (unrecorded) full trust instrument, while protecting the confidentiality of its specific details. A recipient of a certificate may still request copies of certain sections of the trust instrument, particularly those establishing the appointment of a trustee and the trustee's powers, as well as amendments to the trust, but the request opens up certain liabilities, as enumerated in P.S. 7790.3(e),(h).

Section 7790.3 governs the contents and effect of the certificate. Requirements of the certificate include basic information such as the name of the settlor of the trust, the type of trust, the taxpayer identification number assigned to the trust, the acting trustee's name, and the relevant powers of the trustee. The trustee executes and signs the certificate and submits it for recording in the county in which the real property with which the trust is concerned is located.

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

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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Philadelphia 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 Philadelphia 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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