Dekalb County Trustee Deed Form
Dekalb County Trustee Deed Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Dekalb County Trustee Deed Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Dekalb County Completed Example of the Trustee Deed Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
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Additional Tennessee and Dekalb County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Dekalb County Register of Deeds
Smithville, Tennessee 37166
Hours: 8:00 to 4:30 M-F
Phone: (615) 597-4153
Recording Tips for Dekalb County:
- White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
- Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
- Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
- Mornings typically have shorter wait times than afternoons
Cities and Jurisdictions in Dekalb County
Properties in any of these areas use Dekalb County forms:
- Alexandria
- Dowelltown
- Liberty
- Smithville
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Dekalb County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Dekalb 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 Dekalb County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Dekalb 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 Dekalb 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 Dekalb County?
Recording fees in Dekalb County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (615) 597-4153 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
A trustee's deed transfers interest in real property held in a living trust. A settlor (sometimes called a grantor) creates and funds the trust by transferring assets to another person, called the trustee (though these roles may be performed by the same person). The trustee administers the trust for the benefit of another party, called the beneficiary.
The requirements for a trust in Tennessee are that the settlor has a capacity to create a trust and indicates the intention to do so; the trust has a definite beneficiary; the trustee has duties to perform; and the same person is not the sole trustee and sole beneficiary (T.C.A. 35-15-402). A trust must have lawful purposes and its terms must be for the benefit of the trust beneficiaries ( 35-15-404).
The settlor of a living trust generally indicates the intention to create a trust by executing a trust instrument. This unrecorded document sets forth the terms of the trust, indicating how the settlor intends his assets to be administered (settlors of testamentary trusts, or testators, establish the trust's terms in their wills). The trust document also designates the trustee and his successors, if any, and identifies the trust's beneficiary.
Settlors may fund the trust with real property by executing a deed, titling the property in the name of the trustee on behalf of the trust. If the settlor wishes to convey the real estate from the trust as through sale, the trustee then executes a deed. The trustee's power to sell property held in the trust comes from T.C.A. 35-15-816, and is either fortified or restricted by any relevant powers outlined in the trust instrument.
The trustee's deed to convey real property held in a living trust is named after the executing grantor, rather than after the title warranty the grantor provides. In Tennessee, a trustee's deed is a type of special warranty deed, where warranty of title is limited to anyone claiming by, from, through, or under the grantor. This is a more limited warranty than a general warranty deed, in which the grantor promises to warrant and defend title against all claim. In offering a special warranty, the trustee does "not warrant against defects arising from conditions that existed before" he held title to the property.
The basic components of a trustee's deed are the same as any other deed conveying interest in real property in Tennessee. The document names all parties to the transaction and includes the property description, map and parcel numbers assigned to the property, a recitation of the derivation of title, and an oath of consideration stating the true value of the property conveyed. In addition, the trustee's deed references the trust and trust date, and may include a certification of trust under T.C.A. 35-15-1013 as an attachment to certify the trust's existence and the trustee's authority to enter into the transaction.
A trustee's deed should be acknowledged by the executing trustee in the presence of a notary public before it is recorded in the county in which the subject real property is located. Consult a lawyer in the preparation of a trustee's deed, and with any questions regarding living trusts in Tennessee.
(Tennessee TD Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Dekalb County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Trustee Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Dekalb County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Dekalb 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 Dekalb County Trustee Deed 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 - ( 4580 Reviews )
Robert S.
December 21st, 2018
Were unable to help me because of the recorders office but credited my account promptly
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Karen S.
October 24th, 2019
Excellent support! They were patient and knowledgeable.
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Anthony P.
May 16th, 2025
I was able to easily navigate the interface and purchase the forms that I needed. I was then able to prepare the forms with assistance from the reference documents provided with the deed. This was simple, easy, and user friendly. Great job!
Thanks, Anthony! We're glad to hear the process was simple and user-friendly for you. Appreciate the great feedback!
A. S.
February 27th, 2019
First, I am glad that you gave a blank copy, an example copy, and a 'guide'. It made it much easier to do. Overall I was very happy with your products and organization... however, things got pretty confusing and I have a pretty 'serious' law background in Real Estate and Civil law. With that said, I spent about 10+ hours getting my work done, using the Deed of Trust and Promissory note from you and there were a few problems: First, it would be FANTASTIC if you actually aligned your guide to actually match the Deed or Promissory Note. What I mean is that if the Deed says 'section (E)' then your guide shouldn't be 'randomly' numbered as 1,2,3, for advice/instructions, but should EXACTLY match 'section (E)'. Some places you have to 'hunt' for what you are looking for, and if you did it based on my suggestion, you wouldn't need to 'hunt' and it would avoid confusion. 2nd: This one really 'hurt'... you had something called the 'Deed of Trust Master Form' yet you had basically no information on what it was or how to use it. The only information you had was a small section at the top of the 'Short Form Deed of Trust Guide'. Holy Cow, was that 'section' super confusing. I still don't know if I did it correctly, but your guide says only put a return address on it and leave the rest of the 16 or so page Deed of Trust beneath it blank... and then include your 'Deed of Trust' (I had to assume the short form deed that I had just created) as part of it. I had to assume that I had to print off the entire 17 page or so title page and blank deed. I also had to assume that the promissory note was supposed to be EXHIBIT A or B on the Short Form Deed. It would be great if someone would take a serious look at that short section in your 'Short Form Deed of Trust Guide' and realize that those of us using your products are seriously turning this into a county clerk to file and that most of us, probably already have a property that has an existing Deed... or at least can find one in the county records if necessary... and make sure that you make a distinction between the Deed for the property that already exists, versus the Deed of Trust and Promissory note that we are trying to file. Thanks.
Thank you for your feedback. We'll have staff review the document for clarity. Have a great day!
Michelle J.
June 11th, 2022
I believe this is great! It protects the residents from theft of property. Proud of what Wayne County is doing.
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January 14th, 2021
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George T.
August 10th, 2019
Very good. Thanks.
Thank you!
Kathy-Louise A.
February 9th, 2025
I found the process of downloading and completing the documents very user friendly. Thank you for the Declare Value instructions. It was easy to follow, though a sample of the declaration form would be very useful. I didn't know how to list my "capacity" so I left it blank so the recorder could advise me. Otherwise, thank you so much for being available for people who are capable of completing simple legal tasks without the expense of a lawyer. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
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Andrew H.
November 11th, 2020
Very efficient does what it says on the box.
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Dave M.
March 10th, 2020
Service as needed. A bit expensive.
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Jenni R.
April 19th, 2023
Dry convenient and had just the form I needed and included directions, filled out sample form and other resources. Will recommend and use again if needed.
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Sylvia L.
January 10th, 2024
Very easy...found what I was looking for
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Noble Mikhail F.
October 2nd, 2020
The system is wonderful, and makes recording and searching simple, thanks a lot
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Karen M.
June 16th, 2020
Nicely Done - Blank Deeds, Guidelines, examples, etc. Thank you as a former paralegal, I am impressed.
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MARIO D S.
March 7th, 2020
Well worth the $20.00 for the Transfer on Death Deed, if you are willing to do the leg work to notarize and record the deed. Money well spent and money well saved. The value is in the short, bullet type instructions and State specific forms and requirements.
Thank you!