What Is a Substitution of Trustee?

A substitution of trustee is a legal document filed when it is necessary to change a trustee. Two common situations where such a document can come up can be seen in the real estate industry and in the management of private trusts. In real estate, a trustee is appointed by a lender so in the event that a property needs to be foreclosed, the trustee can take charge of arranging the sale and forwarding the proceeds to the lender. With private trusts, trustees are appointed to manage the assets in the trust and distribute them as directed under the terms of the trust.

In many cases, when a trustee is appointed, a secondary trustee is named in the documents filed at the time. This person is named to take over in the event that the original trustee becomes unable or unwilling to do the job. If the secondary trustee needs to step up to assume duties, a substitution of trustee will be filed to formalize the change. Beneficiaries can also appoint an entirely new trustee to take over.

This document must be filled out completely and submitted to the clerk or recorder in the region where the original legal documents are filed. In the United States, for example, the county clerk in the county where the deed of trust and other matters relating to a real estate sale were filed would need to receive the substitution of trustee document. Notices must also be sent to people with an interest in the trust, such as a landlord's tenants.

Blank forms that people can fill out are sometimes available from government offices and they can also be found in books of legal forms. A lawyer can also draw up a substitution of trustee for people who need one. It is important to use a document that has been prepared or reviewed and approved by an attorney to confirm that all of the necessary information is present. If there are errors in the document, they can be used to challenge the validity of the document and may create problems in the future. People who are in doubt should consult an attorney to confirm that the form is correctly filled out.

The information on such documents enters the public record and anyone may look it up. People who are acting as trustees should be aware that they can be relieved of their positions if the beneficiary or a concerned party suspects that the trustee is not representing the beneficiary's best interests.

A substitution of trustee simply names a new person to take over that position, as well as a secondary trustee if necessary. A substitution of trustee and full reconveyance serves two purposes:

When the new trustee releases the lien, it is known as "reconveyance."

When a borrower (either an individual or a business entity) takes out a loan in order to purchase real property (i.e., a house, building or piece of land), that property serves as collateral for the loan. The lending institution then issues a promissory note. The county where the property is located then records the transaction in a deed of trust.

The trustee's job is to enforce the terms of the loan. When the trustor violates those terms (i.e., fails to make payments), the trustee then has the right to sell the property and recover the lender's investment.

On the other hand, if and when the loan is paid off, the lender issues the trustee the original promissory note, the deed and a request for full conveyance. Once a full reconveyance has been executed, the lender receives a copy, while the deed and promissory note are delivered to the borrower (trustor).

A substitution of trustee and full reconveyance is used for a situation in which the loan is paid in full and the trustee fails to execute a full reconveyance. This allows the lender to appoint a new trustee.

This document is also used when a borrower refinances a loan since the old loan is paid off by the proceeds from the new one.

When the substitution of trustee and full reconveyance is executed, it is signed by the original lender and the current trustee. In order for it to be legal, the document must be signed in the presence of a notary and properly recorded.

The notice of a substitute trustee sale is simply a public announcement that a property is to be sold at auction. This happens after a property owner has missed several payments and efforts to resolve the situation have failed. Real estate investors watch these announcements closely. However, novices and "house flippers" who hope to score a lucrative deal at such an event do not always realize that buying a property at auction is much different than going through a real estate agent and taking out a mortgage. There are definite advantages to purchasing a property at auction. However, there are also pitfalls and dangers of which the buyer should be aware.

The biggest advantage to buying property at auction is price. The lender at this point simply wants to recover any losses; therefore, the opening bid will be set at the amount owed on the mortgage, which may be substantially lower than the property's actual value.

A second advantage is less competition. Buying a foreclosed property is a cash-only deal; an investor cannot take out a mortgage in this situation. He or she may secure a personal loan beforehand, but the bottom line is that payment in full is expected before the deed is signed over. Furthermore, in order to bid at an auction, a deposit is required and the penalty for forfeiting is steep. All of this means far fewer qualified bidders.

Taking on a property that has been foreclosed on can be complicated and risky. Purchasing a property through a real estate agent and a mortgage company offers certain guarantees and protections that are not available to buyers at an auction. For example, a traditional homebuyer does not have to commit to the purchase until the home has undergone a professional inspection. They are also protected in case there are any issues with the title, such as judgment in a lawsuit or other lien.

The person who buys property at an auction agrees to accept the property in its current condition, for better or worse. There's no room to negotiate the cost of necessary repairs. Furthermore, any issues with the title become the new owner's problem, if they arise. Finally, if the property is a rental, the new owner will be responsible for evicting any tenants living there when the property is sold.

A legal document known as a Substitution of Trustee is used to change a trust's trustee. A trust is an arrangement wherein one person (the grantor) grants legal ownership to another person (the trustee), who then retains and manages the property for the benefit of a third party (the beneficiary). The Substitution of Trustee paperwork appoints a new trustee in place of the original trustee. The trust and its assets will thereafter be managed by the new trustee. The grantor and the new trustee must both sign the Substitution of Trustee paperwork before it can be submitted to the court.

A Substitution of Trustee is used to change the person in charge of overseeing the trust and its assets. Many factors may influence the grantor's decision to substitute. For instance, the grantor may no longer be able to act as the trustee, or the grantor could believe another person would be a better choice to oversee the trust. In addition, if the grantor disapproves of the trustee's actions, they may decide to appoint a new trustee.

Generally speaking, any capable adult may act as a trustee. The trustee must be qualified to handle the trust's finances. Typically, the trustee is a family member, close friend, or expert, such as an attorney. It is crucial to remember that the trustee must be prepared to take on the duty of overseeing the trust.

The following stages are normally included in the process for making a Replacement of Trustee. The grantor must first choose a new trustee and get their consent to serve. The second step is for the grantor to put together a document called a Substitution of Trustee that details the new trustees. Lastly, both the grantor and the new trustee must sign the instrument. The paper must then be submitted to the court.

A Substitution of Trustee may incur costs; that much is certain. These fees might include filing, legal, and other expenses related to putting together and completing the required paperwork. The grantor can also be liable for the trustee's fee if a professional trustee oversees the trust. It is important to remember that, depending on the state where the trust is constituted, different costs apply when requesting a Substitution of Trustee.