How Do I Check Whether My House Was Transferred Into My Living Trust?

Start with the recorded deed for your home. Look for three things: who received the property, which property the deed describes, and when the deed was recorded. Then check whether a later deed changed ownership again.

If your attorney handled the transfer, the quickest first step is to ask: “Can you send me the recorded copy of the deed that transferred my house into my trust, including any attached property description?” If all you have is the signed trust or a list of assets that includes your home, you still have a reason to check the land records. The Florida Bar’s guide to checking how trust assets are titled

Where do I find the recorded deed?

Start with the official land records office for the place where the house is located. The office may be called the county recorder, register of deeds, or registry of deeds. Have your name as it appeared on the previous deed, the property address, and the approximate year of the transfer handy. If your attorney gave you a document number or a book and page number, use that first.

Search options vary. In Massachusetts, the state’s guide explains how to choose the correct registry and search by name, address, or book and page. It also points readers to a separate search for registered land if a deed doesn’t appear in the usual records. Los Angeles County, by contrast, indexes deeds by the names of the parties and the recording year. Its recorder does not offer an online index, though you can request a copy. An unsuccessful address search is a reason to try another route. Massachusetts Trial Court Law Libraries’ property records guide · Los Angeles County’s real estate records FAQ

If you get stuck, here’s a question you can use:

“I’m looking for a deed recorded around [year] for a house I owned under [name]. It may list me as trustee on the receiving side. How can I find the recording reference and get a complete copy, including any exhibits?”

What should I look for on the deed?

1. Read who gave and who received the property. The grantor transfers an ownership interest. The grantee receives it. Suppose Maya owned her home individually and now serves as trustee of her living trust. Her name might appear on both sides of the same deed. The important detail is how the receiving side identifies her: does it show her acting as trustee, and does the trust information match her estate plan? The wording can vary, so use your attorney’s instructions for comparison. Los Angeles County’s annotated grant deed · The Florida Bar’s guide to trust ownership
2. Check which property the deed covers. Find the legal description, the formal description of the land. It may identify a lot and tract or refer to an attached “Exhibit A.” Compare it with the description on your prior deed. If an exhibit is missing, a lot number differs, or your home sits on two parcels and you can find only one, flag that specific issue for your attorney. Los Angeles County’s guide to the property description on a deed
3. Find the recording details. Look for the recorder’s stamp or recording information on the official copy. Write down the recording date and the document number or book and page. The signing date and recording date can differ. The recording reference is what lets you or your successor trustee find this document again. Los Angeles County’s sample recorded deed
4. Look for a later ownership transfer. The deed you found shows a transfer at a particular point in time. Check for later deeds affecting the same property, especially if you refinanced or changed ownership afterward. Pay attention to the document type. In California, for example, a deed of trust is a loan-security document. Seeing the word trust on refinance paperwork does not establish that your living trust holds the house. Los Angeles County’s annotated deed of trust

What if I can’t tell who owns the house?

If you find a recording reference but can’t get the deed, ask the records office for help retrieving it. If you have the deed but can’t tell what interest it transferred, take the complete copy, the prior deed, and your trust documents to an estate-planning attorney in the state where the house is located. Ask: “Based on these records, who holds title today, and does that match my trust plan?” That question is especially important if there is a co-owner or a later deed you don’t recognize. The Florida Bar’s discussion of deeds, title issues, and homestead considerations

Once you’ve confirmed the result, save the complete deed with your trust records. In Appendix B: Trust Funding Tracker (PDF), note the recording office, date, document reference, and where you filed the copy. If a question is still open, write it down there so you know exactly what to follow up on.

For the full workbook, explore The 21-Day Revocable Living Trust Blueprint.