The most common use for a deed of trust is to keep a legal record of the different contributions made towards a property. But it can be used for a number of other purposes.
These include recording:
How much each party has paid towards the property
What each person's share in the property is
If one person has put extra money in at a later date, for example in renovations
How much each person is responsible for in outgoings such as mortgage payments, bills and maintenance
If a third party, such as a relative, has invested money and is not listed on the title deed but still wants to protect their contribution
If one party is unable or unwilling to buy the other out and wants to officially surrender their interest in the property