Legal Question in Real Estate Law in California

That's a little tricky. I'm not entirely sure what happens in that case. My guess is that the beneficiary would be deemed the trustee, since the beneficiary could have named themselves trustee in the first place. I would try recording a Substitution of Trustee, listing the existing Trustee as "unnamed," and yourself as the new trustee. If the county recorder takes that, you can then record the reconveyance as trustee. If the county will not take it or says it would not be valid, your best bet is to contact a title company and ask their advice. No matter what a lawyer tells you, when your son goes to sell or refinance the property, what the title insurance company says gives clear title will mean a whole lot more than any technical legal answer.