Create Document
Adobe PDF
Microsoft Word
OpenDocumentBy State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
By Type (6)
Deed of Trust – Transfers the property title to a trustee as collateral until a home loan is repaid by the borrower.
General Warranty Deed – Guarantees that the grantor has full property rights and the title is free of defects and encumbrances.
Lady Bird Deed – Names a beneficiary to receive the property after the owner dies. Permitted in Florida, Michigan, Texas, Vermont, and West Virginia.
Quit Claim Deed – Offers no protection for the grantee with regard to the quality of the title and assurances of ownership.
Special Warranty Deed – Similar to a general warranty deed, but only provides assurances for the time the grantor owned the property.
Transfer on Death Deed (TODD) – Arranges for property to be transferred at the time of the grantor’s death. Recognized in 29 states.
What is a Deed?
A deed is a legal document used for transferring legal title to a property from a grantor to a grantee. By completing and signing a deed, the grantor effectively releases any interest they have in the property.
Deeds can also correct or change the listed owners and information on a title. In some states, certain deed types can be used to name a beneficiary to receive ownership after the grantor’s death or to hold the title as collateral on a loan.
Signing Requirements
The table below contains the signing requirements for deeds in all 50 states.
View State Requirements |
||||
| Alabama | 1 Witness OR Notarization | § 35-4-20 | ||
| Alaska | Notarization | § 34-15-150 | ||
| Arizona | Notarization | § 33-401(B) | ||
| Arkansas | 2 Witnesses AND Notarization | §§ 18-12-104, 18-12-201 | ||
| California | Notarization | § 1189 | ||
| Colorado | Notarization | §§ 38-30-126(1), 38-35-103 | ||
| Connecticut | 2 Witnesses AND Notarization | § 47-5 | ||
| Delaware | Notarization | § 122 | ||
| Florida | 2 Witnesses AND Notarization | §§ 695.26(1)(d), 689.01(1) | ||
| Georgia | 1 Witness AND Notarization | §§ 44-2-15, 44-5-30 | ||
| Hawaii | Notarization | § 502-41 | ||
| Idaho | Notarization | § 55-805 | ||
| Illinois | Notarization | § 765 ILCS 5/20 | ||
| Indiana | Notarization | § 32-21-2-3(a) | ||
| Iowa | Notarization | § 558.20 | ||
| Kansas | Notarization | § 55-2205 | ||
| Kentucky | 2 Witnesses OR Notarization | § 382.130 | ||
| Louisiana | 2 Witnesses AND Notarization | § 1839 | ||
| Maine | Notarization | § 203 | ||
| Maryland | Notarization | § 4-101(a)(1) | ||
| Massachusetts | Notarization | § 183-29 | ||
| Michigan | Notarization | § 565.8 | ||
| Minnesota | Notarization | § 507.24(Subd. 2)(a) | ||
| Mississippi | Notarization | § 89-3-1(1) | ||
| Missouri | Notarization | §§ 442.130, 15.152.030 | ||
| Montana | Notarization | § 70-21-203 | ||
| Nebraska | Notarization | § 76-211 | ||
| Nevada | Notarization | § 111.105 | ||
| New Hampshire | Notarization | § 477:3 | ||
| New Jersey | Notarization | § 46:14-2.1(a) | ||
| New Mexico | Notarization | § 14-8-4 | ||
| New York | Notarization | § 306 | ||
| North Carolina | Notarization | § 47-17 | ||
| North Dakota | Notarization | § 47-19-03 | ||
| Ohio | Notarization | § 5301.01(A) | ||
| Oklahoma | Notarization | 16 § 26 | ||
| Oregon | Notarization | § 93.410 | ||
| Pennsylvania | Notarization | 21 § 42 | ||
| Rhode Island | Notarization | § 34-11-1 | ||
| South Carolina | 2 Witnesses AND Notarization (Notary can act as 1 witness) | § 30-5-30(B) | ||
| South Dakota | 1 Witness OR Notarization | § 43-25-26 | ||
| Tennessee | 2 Witnesses OR Notarization | § 66-22-101(a) | ||
| Texas | 2 Witnesses OR Notarization | § 12.001(b) | ||
| Utah | Notarization | § 57-3-101(1) | ||
| Vermont | Notarization | § 341(a) | ||
| Virginia | 2 Witnesses OR Notarization | § 55.1-600 | ||
| Washington | Notarization | § 64.04.020 | ||
| West Virginia | 2 Witnesses OR Notarization | § 39-1-2 | ||
| Wisconsin | Notarization | §§ 706.05(2)(a), 706.06 | ||
| Wyoming | Notarization | § 34-1-113 | ||
Where to Record a Deed
After signing the deed in accordance with state requirements, the grantor must file it with the county or district recorder.
The directory of recording offices for each state is listed in the table below.
Important Terms to Know
- Conveyance – The transfer or assignment of property ownership from one person or entity to another.
- Encumbrance – A claim against a property, such as:
- CC&Rs (Conditions, Covenants, and Restrictions) – Also known as deed restrictions, these can restrict the usage, appearance, and maintenance of the property.
- Easements – Provides a third party with the right to use the land, such as a right-of-way or a utility line.
- Encroachment – Occurs when an object extends into the property. Examples include trees, shrubbery, fences, or sheds and other outbuildings.
- Liens – A lien is a third-party claim on property. The property acts as collateral and can be claimed if the debtor defaults.
- Grantee – The person or entity receiving ownership of the property.
- Grantor – The person or entity transferring property to the grantee.
- Notary Acknowledgment – The act of verifying the identity of the signer and acknowledging their signatures on the document (“notarization”).
- All states require notarization or permit it as an authentication method for deeds.