In Illinois, a trustee's deed is used to transfer real property out of a trust. The deed is named for the person executing it -- the trustee. According to Black's Law Dictionary, 8th ed., a trustee is someone who, having legal title to property, holds it in trust for the benefit of another and owes a fiduciary duty to that beneficiary. A fiduciary is someone who must exercise a high standard of care in managing another's money or property.

The trustee's deed establishes basic information about the trust, such as the name and date of the trust document. The trustee serves as the grantor in the deed, and transfers the title into the grantee's name. As with all other conveyances of real property, the deed requires a legal description of the property being conveyed, as well as a Property Identification Number (PIN) and commonly known address. For a valid transfer, the trustee must sign the deed in the presence of a notary, who confirms (notarizes) the signature.

(Illinois Trustee Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

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