Deed recording

A transfer of real property to a trust generally requires a deed and recording with the appropriate local office. Bancroft offers a paid recording service. Confirm property eligibility and any legal, tax, lender or title questions before ordering. For financial accounts, see the funding-letter workflow.

How it works

1. You or the household order a deed recording from the property’s trust funding task.
2. The household supplies the property’s legal description, copied from the current recorded deed, and a copy of that deed. Nothing is prepared until both are in.
3. The deed is prepared at the household’s direction from the information it provided, in the form the property’s state requires. The household reviews and signs it.
4. Bancroft coordinates the filing with the county recorder’s office. The household is emailed when the deed is recorded, and you can follow the order on the household’s trust funding page.

Pricing

Deed recording costs $199 per deed, once per property. The fee covers preparing the deed from the household’s information and coordinating the recording. County recording fees, which vary by jurisdiction, are included.

On any plan, you can cover the deed recording fee for your households, so they are never charged for it. See billing and plans.

Other deed types

Deeds that transfer property at death rather than to a trust are paused and cannot be ordered at this time.

Where supported, the recording packet includes applicable state transfer affidavits. Check the property’s filing requirements and deadlines with the recording team; do not assume the deed itself completes every required filing.

Property in multiple states

If the client owns property in more than one state, a separate deed must be recorded in each county where property is located. Each deed is a separate order with its own $199 fee. The advantage of holding real property in a trust is that it avoids ancillary probate. Without the trust, out-of-state property typically requires a separate probate proceeding in each state where property is located.

What to tell clients

Common questions clients ask about deed transfers:

• Does this affect my mortgage? Ask counsel or the lender to confirm how the proposed transfer is treated. Federal due-on-sale protections have conditions and do not cover every transfer or loan.
• Does this affect my homestead exemption? Confirm eligibility and any required filings with local counsel or the assessing authority before transferring title.
• Does this change my property taxes? Reassessment and exemption rules vary. Obtain advice for the property’s jurisdiction rather than assuming the assessed value will stay the same.
• Do I need to notify my insurance company? Ask the insurer how to preserve appropriate coverage for the proposed ownership before completing the transfer.

How long it takes

Recording times depend on the county. Some counties record within a week. Others take several weeks.