Daily AncestorDeed of trust
A deed of trust is a land loan in which the borrower deeds the land to a trustee as security until the debt is paid.
A deed of trust is used in many states instead of a mortgage. The borrower conveys the land to a third person, the trustee, who holds it until the loan is repaid, and who can sell it if the borrower defaults.
In deed indexes a deed of trust looks like a sale, but it is a loan. Look for a later release or a trustee's sale to see how it ended.
As seen in a recordGranting clause of a deed of trust
to Saml. Ross, trustee, in trust to secure the payment of a note
How to cite this page
Daily Ancestor. "Deed of trust." Dictionary of Old Record Words. https://dailyancestor.com/dictionary/legal-land/deed-of-trust. Last checked 2026-10-01.