A Certificate of Trust is a concise legal document that certifies the existence and key terms of a trust created under the laws of England and Wales. Unlike the full Trust Deed itself, which may run to many pages and contain sensitive details about discretionary distributions, trustee powers, and individual beneficiaries, a Certificate of Trust contains only the information necessary to allow a third party — such as a bank, financial institution, solicitor, conveyancer, or estate agent — to verify that the trust exists and that the named trustees have the authority to act on the trust's behalf.

In England and Wales, the primary legislation governing the creation and administration of trusts is the Trustee Act 1925 and the Trustee Act 2000. The Trustee Act 2000 significantly modernised the powers available to trustees, granting them a broad power of investment, a power to delegate investment management functions, a power to acquire land, and a statutory duty of care. The Certificate of Trust operates as a practical tool within this framework, providing third parties with the essential information they need without requiring them to review the full trust documentation.

A Certificate of Trust is typically signed by all current trustees and may include a statutory declaration confirming that the information contained in it is accurate. Some institutions require the certificate to be signed in the presence of a solicitor, notary public, or other authorised witness.

The document identifies the trust by its full legal name and the date the Trust Deed was executed. It names the current trustees, identifies the settlor (the individual who created the trust by transferring assets into it), specifies the type of trust (for example, discretionary, bare, or interest in possession), gives a general description of the trust assets, and identifies the beneficiaries or the class of beneficiaries. The Certificate of Trust confirms that the trust is validly constituted and currently in existence, and that the trustees have full authority to act.

A Certificate of Trust does not create a trust — the trust itself is created by the Trust Deed. Rather, the Certificate of Trust is a summary certification that is used for practical, day-to-day dealings with third parties who need evidence of the trustees' authority but who do not need — or are not entitled — to see the full terms of the trust.

A Certificate of Trust is needed in a wide range of situations where the trustees of a trust need to establish their identity and authority to a third party without disclosing the full terms of the Trust Deed.

The most common situation is the opening of a bank account in the name of the trust. Banks and financial institutions are required under the Money Laundering, Terrorist Financing and Transfer of Funds (Information on the Payer) Regulations 2017 to conduct due diligence on trusts and their trustees before opening accounts or providing financial services. A Certificate of Trust provides the bank with the information it requires — the name of the trust, the identity of the trustees, the date the trust was established, and the type of trust — without requiring the trustees to provide a full copy of the Trust Deed.

A Certificate of Trust is also needed when trustees wish to invest trust funds through a stockbroker, financial adviser, or investment platform. Investment managers will typically require evidence that a trust exists and that the person directing investments has authority to act as trustee before accepting instructions.

Where the trust holds real property, the trustees will need to provide evidence of their authority when dealing with the Land Registry, a solicitor acting on a property sale or purchase, or a mortgage lender. Although the Land Registry holds official records of legal title, a Certificate of Trust assists in confirming the trustees' current authority and the constitution of the trust.

A Certificate of Trust may also be required when the trustees enter into contracts on behalf of the trust, when they deal with an estate where the trust is a beneficiary, or when they need to assert the trust's rights in legal proceedings.

Finally, a Certificate of Trust is useful when there has been a change in the identity of the trustees — for example, when a trustee retires and is replaced under the Trustee Act 1925, or when a new trustee is appointed. Issuing an updated Certificate of Trust confirms the current composition of the trustee body for the benefit of all parties dealing with the trust.

A well-drafted Certificate of Trust for a trust governed by the laws of England and Wales should contain several key elements to be effective with banks, financial institutions, and other third parties.

The first essential element is the full legal name of the trust, exactly as it appears in the Trust Deed. Where the trust name contains a date or other identifying element, this should be included precisely to avoid any ambiguity about the identity of the trust.

The second element is the date of the Trust Deed — the date on which the trust was formally established by the execution of the Trust Deed. This is important because it identifies the specific legal instrument under which the trust operates and assists in locating the deed if required.

The third element is the identification of the settlor — the person who created the trust by transferring their own assets into it. In many trusts, the settlor will also be one of the initial trustees, but this is not always the case. Identifying the settlor assists third parties in understanding the origins of the trust property.

The fourth element is the identification of all current trustees by their full legal names. This is particularly important where there have been changes to the trustee body since the trust was created, as third parties need to know who currently has authority to act. If a corporate trustee is involved, the company's registered name and company number should be included.

The fifth element is the type of trust — whether it is a discretionary trust, bare trust, interest in possession trust, or charitable trust. This helps third parties understand the nature of the trust and the scope of the trustees' powers.

The sixth element is a general description of the trust assets. This need not be a complete inventory; a general statement that the trust holds real property, investments, and cash is usually sufficient. The purpose of this element is to give third parties confidence that the trust has substance.

The seventh element is the identification of the beneficiaries or the class of beneficiaries. Again, this can be expressed in general terms — for example, the children and grandchildren of the settlor — without naming every individual beneficiary.

The certificate should close with a declaration by all current trustees confirming that the information is accurate, that the trust is validly constituted and in existence, and that there has been no amendment that would affect the authority certified therein. All trustees should sign the certificate, and their signatures should be dated.