Land Trust Agreement Template

Land Trust Agreement FAQs

1) What is a land trust agreement?

A land trust agreement is a legal document that grants a trustee ownership of a piece of property at the request of the property owner. The goal of the agreement is usually to designate a trustee to manage the property for a named beneficiary.

Land trust agreements are similar to other living trust agreements, except that they focus specifically on real estate. Benefits of these agreements include that they can both maintain the owner’s anonymity and keep the property out of probate. Land trusts are often used in estate planning, property development, and conservation.

2) Who can enter into a land trust agreement?

Anyone who owns property can set up a land trust with someone who is legally allowed to manage or benefit from that trust. The three key players of a land trust are the grantor (who grants the land), the trustee (who manages the land), and the beneficiary (who benefits from the land).

3) How does a land trust agreement work?

Land trust agreements are revocable trusts that can be terminated or changed at any time to aid in property management. When a grantor transfers a property to a trustee, that individual is put in charge of maintaining and caring for that property for the term of the trust. In the event that the owner passes away, the ownership title is granted to the named beneficiary.

4) What are the benefits of a land trust agreement?

Land trusts allow property owners and real estate investors to separate their properties from their personal finances, because these documents provide robust privacy protections. Land trusts also make it easier to transfer property without going through the probate process.