Washington Forms

Pierce County Certificate of Trust Form

Pierce County Certificate of Trust Form

Pierce County Certificate of Trust Form

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

Validated 5/12/2025 Preview Form
Pierce County Certifciate of Trust Guide

Pierce County Certifciate of Trust Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Validated 4/30/2025 Preview Form
Pierce County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Pierce County Completed Example of the Certificate of Trust Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Validated 5/1/2025 Preview Form

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Pierce County Auditor

Address:
2401 S 35th St, Rm 200
Tacoma, Washington 98409

Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 Mon through Fri

Phone: 253.798.7440

Recording Tips for Pierce County:
  • Verify all names are spelled correctly before recording
  • Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates

Cities and Jurisdictions in Pierce County

Properties in any of these areas use Pierce County forms:

  • Anderson Island
  • Ashford
  • Bonney Lake
  • Buckley
  • Camp Murray
  • Carbonado
  • Dupont
  • Eatonville
  • Elbe
  • Fox Island
  • Gig Harbor
  • Graham
  • Kapowsin
  • La Grande
  • Lakebay
  • Lakewood
  • Longbranch
  • Longmire
  • Mcchord Afb
  • Mckenna
  • Milton
  • Orting
  • Paradise Inn
  • Puyallup
  • Roy
  • South Prairie
  • Spanaway
  • Steilacoom
  • Sumner
  • Tacoma
  • University Place
  • Vaughn
  • Wauna
  • Wilkeson

How do I get my forms?

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

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Pierce 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 Pierce 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 Pierce County?

Recording fees in Pierce County vary. Contact the recorder's office at 253.798.7440 for current fees.

Have other questions? Contact our support team

Washington State Certification of Trust

When doing business with a trustee, third parties (such as financial institutions) may request a certification of trust, a statutory document that certifies the existence of a trust and outlines the trustee's powers and authority to act on the trust's behalf. In Washington, the certificate, taken from section 1013 of the Uniform Trust Code, is codified at RCW 11.98.075 as part of the probate and trust law of Washington.

In lieu of presenting parties outside of the trust arrangement (essentially, anyone who is not a trust beneficiary) with the entire trust document, RCW 11.98.075 allows the trustee to supply a certificate of trust containing the essential information about the trust necessary for the transaction at hand, and not "the dispositive terms of the trust" (RCW 11.98.075(4)). This allows the settlor's estate plans to remain private, including the identity of trust beneficiaries.

The certificate requires a statement that the trust exists, along with the name and date of the trust, the identity of the trust's settlor, and the name and address of each current trustee serving the trust. The document also establishes the relevant powers of the trustee to conduct the business at hand. If there are co-trustees, the certificate also outlines how many are required to jointly act in performing trustee powers, and who among them has signing authority. Additional evidence as to the designation of the trustee and the trustee's powers may be requested in the form of excerpts from the trust instrument.

In addition, a certificate of trust also identifies anyone holding a power to revoke the trust, if applicable, and identifies how assets held by the trust are titled. In support of a real property transaction, a certificate may also provide a legal description of the subject property.

The contents of the certificate may be relied on by the recipient as fact, and offers protections for persons relying on the information. The certificate contains a statement to the effect that the representations made within have not been invalidated by any amendments made to or revocation of the trust.

A certificate of trust in Washington may be signed by any trustee or an attorney for the trust in the presence of a notary public. If the certificate is submitted for recording with the appropriate county's land records, it must conform to Washington State recording requirements.

Consult a lawyer with questions regarding certifications of trust in Washington, as each situation is unique.

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

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

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

Our Promise

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