James City Certificate of Trust Form

Last validated October 6, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Formatted for recording in James City, for property anywhere in the county or independent city: rural and unincorporated areas as well as Jamestown, Norge, Toano, Williamsburg.

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James City Certificate of Trust Form

James City Certificate of Trust Form

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

Document last validated 10/6/2026
James City Certificate of Trust Guide

James City Certificate of Trust Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document last validated 10/2/2026
James City Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

James City Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document last validated 8/17/2026

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Clerk of the Circuit Court

Address:
5201 Monticello Ave, Suite 6
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188-8218

Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday

Phone: (757) 564-2242

Recording Tips for James City:
  • Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Ask about accepted payment methods when you call ahead

Cities and Jurisdictions in James City

Properties in any of these areas use James City forms:

  • Jamestown
  • Norge
  • Toano
  • Williamsburg

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

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. 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 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 county or independent city recording office listed above.

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.

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Good template that met my needs. Much better than another draft template that I found on another site. Would have been helpful if the template had been provided in a Word format instead of PDF so that I could remove the sections that are not applicable.

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Carol K. 1 out of 5 stars

was expecting a one page Grant Deed not what I received.

Reply from Staff

Hi Carol, thank you for your feedback. A properly prepared California Grant Deed often runs more than one page. California requires specific recording formatting, a documentary transfer tax declaration, room for the full legal description, and the state’s mandatory notary acknowledgment wording, which is typically on its own page. Our form is built to meet those requirements so it is accepted for recording.

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Kay I. 5 out of 5 stars

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?

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Ralph O. 5 out of 5 stars

The experience has been excellent. The site gave me exactly what I was looking for. The documentation we easy to understand.

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SHERRI B. 5 out of 5 stars

World class forms and service. Downloaded and prepared the deed in minutes. Used the recording service (digital), so convenient.

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Kari G. 5 out of 5 stars

The service was prompt and attentive to my questions. I would've just appreciated a heads up that I also needed to contact the county directly (and provide contact info) to receive a certified copy of the document (Notice of Commencement) in order to submit the certified copy to the Building Department. This was an extra step that I haven't had to complete before using another eRecording service. Even if this extra step is a result of the county's system. I would still have expected a head's up (since there wasn't any info regarding this on the county's site for eRecording).

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