James City Certificate of Trust Form
Last validated May 27, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
James City Certificate of Trust Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

James City Certificate of Trust Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

James City 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 Virginia and James City documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Clerk of the Circuit Court
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188-8218
Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday
Phone: (757) 564-2242
Recording Tips for James City:
- Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
- White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
- Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
- Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
Cities and Jurisdictions in James City
Properties in any of these areas use James City forms:
- Jamestown
- Norge
- Toano
- Williamsburg
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for James City
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The James City 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 James City?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in James City, 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 James City 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 James City?
Recording fees in James City vary. Contact the recorder's office at (757) 564-2242 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Signed by a currently acting trustee, a certification or certificate of trust under Va. Code Ann. 64.2-804 is a document summarizing a trust in lieu of the trust instrument, and contains certified statements affirmed by the trustee in the presence of a notary public. The document confirms the existence of the subject trust and the trustee's capacity and relevant powers, and is presented in support of a transaction involving trust property.
A certificate of trust is frequently recorded alongside a trustee's deed or acquisition of real property by the trust, though recording of the document is not required by Virginia Code. Instead of disclosing the settlor's estate plan by providing the entire trust instrument, the certificate allows a trustee to provide parties outside of the trust arrangement (anyone who is not a trust beneficiary) only the essential information necessary to conduct the business at hand. Recipients of a certificate "may assume without inquiry the existence of the facts contained" within it ( 64.2-804(F)).
Requirements of a certificate include statements that the trust exists and that it has not been revoked or modified in a way that would invalidate the contents of the certificate. The form presents basic information, such as the trust's name and date; the identities of the settlor and the current trustee; the trust's identification number; and the name by which property is titled to the trust. In addition, the document identifies anyone who can revoke the trust and, if there are co-trustees, the specifications for authenticating documents relating to the trust.
Further, the document enumerates the powers of the trustee pertaining to the transaction for which the certificate is presented. These may include powers under the Uniform Trust Code, codified at 64.2-7 of the Virginia Code. Recipients of a certificate can also request excerpts of the trust instrument and any amendments thereto that designate the trustee and establish these powers.
Consult a lawyer with questions about trusts and certifications of trust in Virginia.
(Virginia COT Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in James City to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Certificate of Trust meets all recording requirements specific to James City.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable James City 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 James City 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 - ( 4741 Reviews )
Joyce K.
June 21st, 2019
I was very happy with this site. It included all the papers I needed, instructions, and even an example sheet to work from. The papers are now filed and done with ease. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Kay I.
December 11th, 2019
Very easy to use. However, the "sample" filled in red ink did not print for me to refer to. Is that the correct desire, not to print?
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Rebecca V.
May 18th, 2023
The staff is Great to work with, Thank You
Thank you!
Marie B.
May 21st, 2020
Easily found what I needed. Very helpful. Downloaded the documents, saved to my computer and printed what I needed.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Lori G.
June 17th, 2019
I needed to add my husband to my deed. an attorney would charge me $275.00. I decided to file myself. This makes it easy. Not done w/the process yet. But so far so good! :)
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
SANTTINA W.
August 13th, 2022
IT WAS SO VERY HELPFUL AND EASY TO DO WILL RETUN TO THE SITE AGAIN.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Catherine M.
October 22nd, 2025
Easy to use, loved the format, will use again
Thank you, Catherine! We’re so glad you found the process easy and liked the format. We appreciate your support and look forward to helping you again soon!
Cynthia S.
April 6th, 2021
Great service got everything I needed with a click of a tab. Thank You...
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
John M.
September 16th, 2022
Easy to use site with a good selection of documents
Thank you!
Pauletta C.
February 12th, 2022
worked like a charm
Thank you!
Samantha B.
December 9th, 2020
Awesome service! This took care of my needs 10x faster than I thought possible. I even bought an extra service that wasn't needed to accomplish my end goal and they refunded me without me even asking. Highly recommend!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Cassandra C.
February 7th, 2022
I was easy fast and easy to order and download.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Lisa C.
December 5th, 2023
Thank you. Very easy!
We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!
Joe S.
July 6th, 2020
Easy to use, reasonable price and excellent customer service! I would not hesitate to use Deeds.com again.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Adriana V.
July 2nd, 2020
Excellent and a very fast way to release important documents. Thank you very much.
Thank you!