Whatcom County Certificate of Trust Form
Last validated July 3, 2026 by our Forms Development Team
Whatcom County Certificate of Trust Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Whatcom County Certifciate of Trust Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Whatcom County 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 Washington and Whatcom County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Whatcom County Auditor: Recording
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 M-F
Phone: (360) 778-5100
Recording Tips for Whatcom County:
- White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
- Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
- Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
Cities and Jurisdictions in Whatcom County
Properties in any of these areas use Whatcom County forms:
- Acme
- Bellingham
- Blaine
- Custer
- Deming
- Everson
- Ferndale
- Lummi Island
- Lynden
- Maple Falls
- Nooksack
- Point Roberts
- Sumas
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Whatcom County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Whatcom 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 Whatcom County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Whatcom County, 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom County?
Recording fees in Whatcom County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (360) 778-5100 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
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 Whatcom County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Certificate of Trust meets all recording requirements specific to Whatcom County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Whatcom County 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 Whatcom 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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February 21st, 2021
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Barbara S.
February 28th, 2019
I had an issue due to the fact that I had many beneficiaries. I was and still am not sure how to handle this. We do have Adobe Pro and can modify the form, if needed. But I would like to talk to your organization for more information.
While we are unable to assist you specifically with completing the document we can note that this is addressed in the guide. Information that does not fit in the available space should be included in an exhibit page.