Trust Deed Format & Template

What is a Trust Deed?

When to use it

• You are setting up a charitable trust for education, health or other public purposes.
• A family wants to hold property for the benefit of children or dependants through trustees.
• An organisation needs a trust structure to open a bank account and receive donations.

What you'll need

Keep these details ready — the form asks for them in this order.

How it works

1. 1

   Enter settlor and trust name

   Who is creating the trust and what it will be called.

2. 2

   State the objects

   The purposes the trust exists for — specific enough to guide trustees and tax authorities.

3. 3

   Name trustees and the corpus

   The initial trustees and the property or money settled on the trust.

4. 4

   Preview, pay and download

   Pay ₹200 and download it for stamping and registration.

How to make it legally valid

• Stamp duty at your state’s rate, often based on the value of the trust property.
• Registered with the Sub-Registrar — compulsory where immovable property is settled, and expected by banks and tax authorities in practice.
• Signed by the settlor (and trustees accepting office), with two witnesses.
• For a public charitable trust, registration with the state charity authority where required and with the Income Tax Department for exemption.

Stamp paper. Stamp duty on a trust deed is set by each state and usually depends on the value of the property settled. Confirm with the Sub-Registrar.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Objects so vague that tax registration is refused.
• No clause on appointing, removing or replacing trustees.
• Mixing private family benefit with charitable objects in one trust.
• Settling immovable property without registering the deed.