In a deed of trust, who is the trustor (the borrower)?

• A. The borrower
• B. The beneficiary
• C. The trustee
• D. The lender

Answer: (A)

In a deed of trust, three parties are involved: the trustor, the beneficiary, and the trustee. The trustor is the borrower—the person who signs the promissory note and conveys an interest in the property to a trustee to hold in trust as security for the loan. The beneficiary is the lender who benefits from the security, and the trustee is the neutral party who holds the legal title to the property on behalf of the lender and can initiate a trustee’s sale if the borrower defaults. So, the trustor is the borrower because that role represents the party who borrows and places the property in trust to secure the loan.