Certification of Trust
CERTIFICATION OF TRUST
State of Colorado
Pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes Section 15-5-1013
(Colorado Uniform Trust Code)
I. PURPOSE OF THIS CERTIFICATION
This Certification of Trust is furnished pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes Section 15-5-1013, which authorizes a trustee to provide this certification to any person other than a beneficiary in lieu of furnishing a copy of the trust instrument. This Certification is intended to establish the existence of the Trust, the identity and authority of the Trustee(s), and such other facts as are required by law, without disclosing the dispositive terms of the Trust.
II. TRUST IDENTIFICATION AND EXISTENCE
2.1 The undersigned hereby certifies that a trust exists under the following identification:
Trust Name: [________________________________]
Date of Execution of Original Trust Instrument: [__/__/____]
2.2 Amendments, Restatements, and Decanting:
☐ The Trust has not been amended, restated, or decanted.
☐ The Trust has been amended or restated as follows:
| No. | Date | Nature of Modification |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | [__/__/____] | [________________________________] |
| 2 | [__/__/____] | [________________________________] |
| 3 | [__/__/____] | [________________________________] |
☐ The Trust has been decanted pursuant to the Colorado Uniform Trust Decanting Act (C.R.S. § 15-1-1301 et seq.) on [__/__/____]. The resulting trust is known as: [________________________________]
2.3 Trust Classification:
☐ Revocable Living Trust (Inter Vivos)
☐ Irrevocable Trust
☐ Testamentary Trust (created under the Last Will and Testament of [________________________________], admitted to probate in [________________________________] County, Colorado, Case No. [________________________________])
☐ Supplemental/Special Needs Trust
☐ Charitable Remainder Trust (☐ Annuity Trust ☐ Unitrust)
☐ Charitable Lead Trust
☐ Qualified Personal Residence Trust
☐ Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
☐ Colorado Beneficiary-Controlled Trust
☐ Other: [________________________________]
2.4 Trust Taxpayer Identification Number (EIN): [________________________________]
III. SETTLOR IDENTIFICATION
3.1 Settlor(s):
| Settlor 1 | Settlor 2 (if applicable) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full Legal Name | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| Date of Birth | [__/__/____] | [__/__/____] |
| Address | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
| City, State, ZIP | [________________________________] | [________________________________] |
3.2 Status of Settlor(s):
| Settlor 1 | Settlor 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Living | ☐ | ☐ |
| Deceased | ☐ Date: [__/__/____] | ☐ Date: [__/__/____] |
| Incapacitated | ☐ | ☐ |
IV. TRUSTEE IDENTIFICATION
4.1 Currently Acting Trustee(s)
Individual Trustee 1:
Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
Residential Address: [________________________________]
City: [________________________________] State: Colorado ZIP: [____________]
Date Appointed: [__/__/____]
Manner of Appointment: ☐ Original Trustee ☐ Successor Trustee ☐ Court-Appointed ☐ Other
Individual Trustee 2 (if applicable):
Full Legal Name: [________________________________]
Residential Address: [________________________________]
City: [________________________________] State: Colorado ZIP: [____________]
Date Appointed: [__/__/____]
Manner of Appointment: ☐ Original Trustee ☐ Successor Trustee ☐ Court-Appointed ☐ Other
Corporate/Institutional Trustee (if applicable):
Entity Name: [________________________________]
Type: ☐ Bank ☐ Trust Company ☐ Other
State of Organization: [________________________________]
Principal Office: [________________________________]
Authorized Representative: [________________________________]
Title: [________________________________]
4.2 Successor Trustee(s)
First Successor: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Second Successor: [________________________________]
Address: [________________________________]
Mechanism for Selecting Additional Successors:
☐ Named in the Trust instrument.
☐ Selected by remaining Trustee(s).
☐ Selected by a majority of qualified beneficiaries.
☐ Appointed by the court per C.R.S. § 15-5-704.
☐ Other: [________________________________]
V. REVOCABILITY AND POWER TO REVOKE
5.1 Revocability Status:
☐ REVOCABLE. The Trust is presently revocable. The Settlor has retained the power to amend, modify, or revoke the Trust in whole or in part during the Settlor's lifetime, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-602.
☐ IRREVOCABLE. The Trust is irrevocable and cannot be amended, modified, or revoked.
☐ BECAME IRREVOCABLE. The Trust was originally revocable but became irrevocable:
☐ Upon the death of the Settlor on [__/__/____], pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-602(a).
☐ Upon the occurrence of: [________________________________]
☐ By the express terms of the Trust instrument on [__/__/____].
5.2 Person(s) Holding Power to Revoke:
☐ No person holds a current power to revoke the Trust.
☐ The following person(s) hold power to revoke:
| Name | Nature of Power | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| [________________________________] | ☐ Full ☐ Partial | [________________________________] |
| [________________________________] | ☐ Full ☐ Partial | [________________________________] |
5.3 Method of Revocation Required:
☐ Written instrument delivered to Trustee, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-602(c).
☐ Substantially compliant written instrument, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-602(c).
☐ Other method specified in the Trust instrument: [________________________________]
VI. CO-TRUSTEE AUTHORITY
6.1 Number of Currently Serving Trustees: [____]
6.2 Action Requirements:
☐ All co-trustees must participate in and consent to every exercise of a trust power (unanimity required).
☐ A majority of co-trustees may exercise trust powers, per C.R.S. § 15-5-703(a).
☐ Any one trustee may act independently.
☐ The Trust instrument allocates authority as follows: [________________________________]
6.3 Signing Authority for Documents:
☐ All co-trustees must sign all documents and instruments.
☐ A majority of co-trustees must sign documents and instruments.
☐ Any one co-trustee may sign documents and instruments on behalf of all co-trustees.
☐ Special signing requirements apply: [________________________________]
VII. TRUSTEE POWERS
The Trustee(s) of the Trust possess the following powers, as granted by the Trust instrument and by operation of law under C.R.S. § 15-5-816:
7.1 Real Property Powers
☐ To acquire, hold, manage, and dispose of real property (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(b), (h)).
☐ To sell or exchange trust property, including real property, on terms the trustee considers appropriate (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(b), (c)).
☐ To execute deeds of conveyance, including warranty deeds, special warranty deeds, and quitclaim deeds.
☐ To encumber trust real property by mortgage, deed of trust, or other security instrument (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(e)).
☐ To lease trust property (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(i)).
☐ To grant or accept easements, restrictions, and covenants.
☐ To manage, develop, improve, or raze improvements on real property.
☐ To insure trust property (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(k)).
7.2 Financial Powers
☐ To deposit funds in financial institutions (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(d)).
☐ To borrow money and encumber trust property (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(e)).
☐ To invest and reinvest trust assets (C.R.S. § 15-5-815, Colorado Uniform Prudent Investor Act, C.R.S. § 15-5-901 et seq.).
☐ To open, maintain, and close bank and brokerage accounts.
☐ To authorize wire transfers and electronic transactions.
☐ To collect trust income and principal.
7.3 Administrative Powers
☐ To employ and compensate agents, attorneys, and advisors (C.R.S. § 15-5-815, General powers of trustee).
☐ To prosecute, settle, or abandon claims (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(n), (x)).
☐ To make distributions to beneficiaries according to trust terms (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(u)).
☐ To execute and deliver instruments and documents.
☐ To make tax elections and file returns (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(p)).
☐ To allocate receipts and disbursements between income and principal.
7.4 Business Entity Powers
☐ To continue, participate in, or sell any business or entity interest (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(f)).
☐ To vote proxies and exercise stock rights (C.R.S. § 15-5-816(1)(g)(I)).
☐ To form or dissolve entities.
7.5 Pending Transaction
Description of Transaction: [________________________________]
Specific Trust Authority: [________________________________]
Relevant Trust Article/Section: [________________________________]
VIII. MANNER OF HOLDING TITLE
8.1 Title to trust property shall be taken as follows:
☐ [________________________________], Trustee of the [________________________________] Trust, dated [__/__/____]
☐ [________________________________] and [________________________________], Co-Trustees of the [________________________________] Trust, dated [__/__/____]
☐ The [________________________________] Trust, dated [__/__/____]
☐ Other: [________________________________]
IX. STATUTORY CERTIFICATIONS AND REPRESENTATIONS
The undersigned Trustee(s) hereby certify and represent, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013:
9.1 Existence. The Trust identified herein was validly created and is currently in full force and effect.
9.2 No Material Changes. As required by C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(3), the Trust has not been revoked, modified, or amended in any manner that would cause the representations contained in this Certification of Trust to be incorrect.
9.3 Authority. The undersigned is/are the duly appointed, currently acting, and qualified Trustee(s) with authority to act on behalf of the Trust.
9.4 No Dispositive Terms. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(4), this Certification does not contain the dispositive terms of the Trust.
9.5 Accuracy. All information contained herein is true, correct, and complete as of the date of execution.
9.6 Compliance with CUTC. This Certification complies with the requirements of the Colorado Uniform Trust Code, C.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.
9.7 No Pending Challenges. There are no pending judicial proceedings challenging the validity of the Trust, the authority of the Trustee(s), or the pending transaction, except: [________________________________]
9.8 No Limitation on Powers. There are no restrictions or limitations on the Trustee's powers that would prevent completion of the pending transaction, except: [________________________________]
X. THIRD-PARTY RELIANCE AND PROTECTIONS
10.1 Reliance. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(6), a person who acts in reliance upon this Certification without knowledge that the representations contained herein are incorrect is not liable to any person for so acting and may assume without inquiry the existence of the facts contained in this Certification. Knowledge of the terms of the Trust may not be inferred solely from the fact that a copy of all or part of the Trust instrument is held by the person relying upon this Certification.
10.2 Enforcement. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(7), a person who in good faith enters into a transaction in reliance upon this Certification may enforce the transaction against the Trust property as if the representations contained herein were correct.
10.3 Right to Excerpts. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(5), a recipient of this Certification may require the Trustee to furnish copies of those excerpts from the original trust instrument and later amendments that designate the Trustee and confer upon the Trustee the power to act in the pending transaction.
10.4 Demand Liability. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(8), a person making a demand for the full trust instrument in addition to this Certification or excerpts may be liable for costs, expenses, attorney fees, and damages if a court determines that such person did not act in good faith.
10.5 Judicial Proceedings. Pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-1013(9), this Certification does not limit the right of any person to obtain a copy of the trust instrument in a judicial proceeding concerning the Trust.
XI. COLORADO-SPECIFIC PROVISIONS
11.1 Colorado Uniform Trust Code (CUTC)
This Trust is governed by the Colorado Uniform Trust Code (C.R.S. § 15-5-101 et seq.), effective January 1, 2019. For trusts created before January 1, 2019, the CUTC applies as provided in the transitional provisions of C.R.S. § 15-5-106.
11.2 Colorado District Court Jurisdiction
Colorado district courts have exclusive jurisdiction of proceedings involving trusts, pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-5-203. The Trust is subject to the jurisdiction of the District Court in and for [________________________________] County, Colorado.
11.3 Colorado Real Property Considerations
☐ This Certification relates to real property located in [________________________________] County, Colorado.
☐ The property is described as: [________________________________]
☐ This Certification will be recorded with the [________________________________] County Clerk and Recorder.
☐ This Certification does NOT relate to a real property transaction.
11.4 Colorado Transfer Declaration
☐ A Real Property Transfer Declaration (TD-1000) is being filed in connection with the underlying transaction.
☐ Not applicable.
11.5 Trust Decanting
☐ The Trust has NOT been decanted.
☐ The Trust was decanted pursuant to C.R.S. § 15-1-1301 et seq. on [__/__/____], and this Certification reflects the terms of the resulting trust.
11.6 Trust Protector
☐ The Trust instrument designates a trust protector.
Name: [________________________________]
Powers: [________________________________]
☐ The Trust instrument does not designate a trust protector.
11.7 Beneficiary-Controlled Trust
☐ The Trust is a beneficiary-controlled trust with limitations as specified in the Trust instrument.
☐ Not applicable.
XII. EXECUTION
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned Trustee(s) have executed this Certification of Trust as of the date set forth below, in accordance with Colorado law.
Date of Execution: [__/__/____]
Trustee:
Signature: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Capacity: Trustee of the [________________________________] Trust
Date: [__/__/____]
Co-Trustee (if applicable):
Signature: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
Capacity: Co-Trustee of the [________________________________] Trust
Date: [__/__/____]
NOTARY ACKNOWLEDGMENT
STATE OF COLORADO
COUNTY OF [________________________________]
The foregoing instrument was acknowledged before me this [____] day of [________________], [________], by [________________________________], as Trustee(s) of the [________________________________] Trust dated [__/__/____].
WITNESS my hand and official seal.
Signature of Notary Public: ________________________________________
Printed Name: [________________________________]
My Commission Expires: [__/__/____]
Notary Public, State of Colorado
[NOTARIAL SEAL]
XIII. ADDITIONAL NOTES
A. Effective Duration
This Certification is effective as of the date of execution. Third parties should verify the continued accuracy of this Certification if relying upon it for transactions occurring more than [____] days after execution.
B. Colorado Prudent Investor Act
The Trustee's investment powers are subject to the Colorado Uniform Prudent Investor Act (C.R.S. § 15-1.1-101 et seq.) unless the Trust instrument provides otherwise.
C. Principal and Income
Allocation of receipts and disbursements between income and principal is governed by the Colorado Uniform Trust Decanting Act and, where applicable, the Uniform Fiduciary Income and Principal Act as adopted in Colorado.
D. Electronic Signatures
Colorado recognizes the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act (C.R.S. § 24-71.3-101 et seq.). Electronic signatures may be acceptable for this Certification depending on the requirements of the receiving party and the nature of the transaction.
END OF CERTIFICATION OF TRUST
This document consists of [____] pages, constituting the complete Certification of Trust.
About This Template
Estate planning documents decide what happens to your property, your children, and your medical care when you cannot make those decisions yourself. Wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and health care directives each serve different purposes and each have to meet state law requirements for signing, witnessing, and notarization. A document that looks fine on the page but was not executed correctly can be rejected in probate, which is exactly when it is too late to fix.
Important Notice
This template is provided for informational purposes. It is not legal advice. We recommend having an attorney review any legal document before signing, especially for high-value or complex matters.
Last updated: July 2026
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