The following states may use either Mortgage Agreements or Deed of Trusts: Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland, Montana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Wyoming, Washington, and West Virginia.
Most states that use deeds of trust to secure home loans are title theory states.A few deed of trust states include West Virginia, Alaska, Virginia, Arizona, Texas, California, North Carolina, Colorado, New Mexico, Idaho, Montana, Illinois, Missouri and Mississippi.
Locate your current deed. Use the proper deed. Check with your title insurance company and lender. Prepare a new deed. Sign in the presence of a notary. Record the deed in the county clerk's office. Locate the deed that's in trust. Use the proper deed.
As you stated in your question, it is recorded among the land records, and your lender keeps the original. When you pay off the loan, the lender will return the deed of trust with the promissory note. This document is rather lengthy and quite legalistic.
Unlike a will, the contents of a living trust are not a matter of public record. Like most court records, probate files are open to the public.