Forms of Deeds

The transfer of real property is, fundamentally, the transfer of a conceptual bundle of rights. The physical instrument that executes this transfer across the closing table is the deed, a written legal instrument used to transfer ownership of real property from a grantor—the party transferring the real property interest—to a grantee—the party receiving that interest. Title is the abstract state of ownership, but the deed is the tangible vehicle of its movement. However, a piece of paper signed in a vacuum accomplishes nothing. To effectively transfer property title, a deed must be delivered by the grantor during the grantor's lifetime, and it must be accepted by the grantee.

As a real estate professional, the type of deed your client encounters dictates their legal risk and their financial security. Handing a buyer the keys to a house is satisfying, but the ink on the deed is what determines whether they truly own the ground beneath their feet, or if they are simply buying a very expensive lawsuit.