Deed of Trust (Mortgage Alternative)
DEED OF TRUST
(Mortgage Equivalent - Delaware)
State of Delaware
WHEN RECORDED RETURN TO:
[NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
Date: [DATE]
Instrument Number: _________________ (Recorder's Use)
Property Address: [PROPERTY ADDRESS, CITY, DE ZIP]
Parcel ID: [PARCEL ID]
IMPORTANT NOTICE - JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE STATE
DELAWARE IS A JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE STATE. All foreclosures must proceed through the courts. In Delaware, the borrower has the burden to prove they have not defaulted on the mortgage. Delaware offers an Automatic Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program for eligible homeowners.
DEED OF TRUST
THIS DEED OF TRUST is made this [DAY] day of [MONTH], [YEAR], by and among:
GRANTOR (Borrower):
[GRANTOR NAME(S)]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
TRUSTEE:
[TRUSTEE NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
BENEFICIARY (Lender):
[BENEFICIARY/LENDER NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
RECITALS AND GRANT
WHEREAS, Grantor is indebted to Beneficiary in the principal sum of [PRINCIPAL AMOUNT] DOLLARS ($[AMOUNT]), as evidenced by a Promissory Note of even date herewith (the "Note");
NOW, THEREFORE, Grantor does hereby grant, bargain, sell, and convey unto Trustee, in trust, the following described real property situated in [COUNTY] County, Delaware:
SEE EXHIBIT A ATTACHED HERETO AND INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE
Property Address: [PROPERTY ADDRESS], [CITY], Delaware [ZIP CODE]
TOGETHER WITH all buildings, improvements, and fixtures now or hereafter placed thereon; all easements, rights, appurtenances, rents, royalties, and profits.
ARTICLE I - OBLIGATIONS SECURED
This Deed of Trust secures to Beneficiary:
(a) The repayment of the debt evidenced by the Note, with interest, and all renewals, extensions, and modifications;
(b) The payment of all other sums, with interest, advanced under this Deed of Trust;
(c) The performance of Grantor's covenants and agreements under this Deed of Trust and the Note.
ARTICLE II - COVENANTS OF GRANTOR
Grantor covenants and agrees as follows:
2.1 Payment. Grantor shall pay when due the principal and interest on the debt evidenced by the Note and all other sums secured hereby.
2.2 Insurance. Grantor shall keep the improvements insured against loss by fire and other hazards, with Beneficiary named as loss payee.
2.3 Taxes and Assessments. Grantor shall pay before delinquency all taxes, assessments, and charges against the Trust Property.
2.4 Maintenance. Grantor shall maintain the Trust Property in good condition and repair and shall not commit or permit waste.
2.5 Defense of Title. Grantor shall defend title against all claims.
2.6 Compliance with Laws. Grantor shall comply with all laws, ordinances, and regulations affecting the Trust Property.
ARTICLE III - DEFAULT AND FORECLOSURE
3.1 Events of Default. The following shall constitute Events of Default:
(a) Failure to make any payment when due under the Note or this Deed of Trust;
(b) Breach of any covenant or agreement herein;
(c) Material misrepresentation by Grantor;
(d) Transfer of the Trust Property without Beneficiary's prior written consent;
(e) Bankruptcy or insolvency of Grantor.
3.2 Judicial Foreclosure Required. Delaware requires judicial foreclosure for all mortgages and deeds of trust. Beneficiary must file a lawsuit in court.
3.3 Notice of Intent to Foreclose (10 Del. C. § 5062B). For owner-occupied 1- to 4-family primary residential property, a foreclosure action may not be filed until forty-five (45) days after a notice of intent to foreclose is sent. This notice must include:
(a) The amount needed to cure the default;
(b) A list of housing counseling agencies; and
(c) Information about the Delaware Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (DEMAP).
3.4 Filing and Service. Beneficiary files a complaint and serves Grantor with summons. Grantor has twenty (20) days to respond. A separate notice is posted on the property.
3.5 Mediation Program (10 Del. C. § 5062C). Along with the summons and complaint, the lender must give eligible homeowners a notice about Delaware's Automatic Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program for owner-occupied, 1- to 4-family primary residential properties.
3.6 Loss Mitigation Affidavit (10 Del. C. § 5062A). For owner-occupied 1- to 4-family primary residential property, the foreclosing plaintiff must file an affidavit before foreclosure judgment asserting that the defendant has been provided opportunity to apply for federal loss mitigation programs.
3.7 Notice of Sale (10 Del. C. § 4973). Notice of sale must be:
(a) Published in two local newspapers for two weeks before the sale;
(b) Posted publicly at least 14 days before the sale; and
(c) Sent to the borrower at least 10 days before the sale.
3.8 Redemption (10 Del. C. §§ 5065, 5066). Grantor may redeem the property at any time before the court confirms the foreclosure sale. There is no right of redemption after confirmation.
3.9 Deficiency. If the sale proceeds do not pay off the existing mortgage plus costs, and the foreclosure lawsuit did not sue on both the mortgage and note, the lender must file a separate lawsuit to obtain a deficiency judgment.
ARTICLE IV - RELEASE
4.1 Satisfaction. Upon payment of all sums secured hereby, Beneficiary shall execute a Satisfaction of Mortgage suitable for recording.
4.2 Recording. The satisfaction shall be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the Trust Property is located.
ARTICLE V - RECORDING REQUIREMENTS
5.1 Recording. This Deed of Trust shall be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds of [COUNTY] County, Delaware.
5.2 Documentary Transfer Tax. Delaware Realty Transfer Tax shall be paid upon recording.
ARTICLE VI - MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS
6.1 Governing Law. This Deed of Trust shall be governed by Delaware law.
6.2 Successors and Assigns. This Deed of Trust binds and benefits the heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns of the parties.
6.3 Severability. If any provision is held invalid, all other provisions remain in full force.
6.4 Notices. All notices shall be in writing and sent to the addresses set forth above.
6.5 Entire Agreement. This Deed of Trust and the Note constitute the entire agreement of the parties.
ARTICLE VII - RIDERS AND ADDENDA
The following riders are attached hereto and incorporated herein:
☐ Adjustable Rate Rider
☐ Condominium Rider
☐ Planned Unit Development Rider
☐ Second Home Rider
☐ 1-4 Family Rider
☐ Other: [SPECIFY]
SIGNATURE PAGE
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Grantor has executed this Deed of Trust as of the date first written above.
GRANTOR(S):
_______________________________
[GRANTOR NAME]
Date: _________________________
_______________________________
[GRANTOR NAME]
Date: _________________________
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
STATE OF DELAWARE
COUNTY OF [COUNTY]
BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this _____ day of ______________, 20___, personally came before me, the subscriber, a Notary Public for the State of Delaware, [GRANTOR NAME(S)], known to me (or proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence) to be the person(s) whose name(s) is/are subscribed to the foregoing Deed of Trust, and acknowledged the same to be his/her/their act and deed.
GIVEN under my hand and seal of office the day and year aforesaid.
_______________________________
Notary Public
My Commission Expires: ___________
[NOTARY SEAL]
EXHIBIT A
LEGAL DESCRIPTION
The land referred to herein is situated in [COUNTY] County, State of Delaware, and is described as follows:
[INSERT COMPLETE LEGAL DESCRIPTION]
Parcel ID: [NUMBER]
This document prepared by:
[PREPARER NAME]
[ADDRESS]
[PHONE]
[EMAIL]
About This Template
Real estate documents transfer ownership, define who can use a property, and record agreements between buyers, sellers, landlords, and tenants. Deeds, purchase agreements, leases, and easements have to be drafted to meet state recording requirements, and mistakes show up at closing or years later in title disputes. Good real estate paperwork moves transactions forward quickly and avoids the kind of problems that only surface when it is time to sell or refinance.
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: February 2026
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