Deed
The legal document that transfers ownership of the property from seller to buyer. Signed by the seller at closing and recorded in the county records afterward.
Every term like this one lights up in the step you're on.
Free to set up. No credit card.Part 1 of 4
Why a seller cares
It is the document that actually transfers the home; the contract only promises to. Finding your current deed early tells you exactly who owns the home and how, which decides who has to sign at the sale.
Part 2 of 4
A simple example
The deed shows the home in one spouse's name from before the marriage. In some states the other spouse still signs at the sale; the title company will say.
| What your deed says | Who signs at closing |
|---|---|
| You alone | You, and in some states your spouse as well |
| You and a co-owner | Both of you, wherever the co-owner lives |
| A parent who has died | The estate, after probate or an affidavit, not you alone |
The deed names the owners, and every owner on it has to convey the home.
Part 3 of 4
What people get wrong
That the deed and the title are the same thing. Title is the right to own; the deed is the piece of paper that passes it.
Part 4 of 4 · where to read next
Where it appears in the sale
What a definition is, and what it isn't
Keighbor is a software company, not a law firm, brokerage, or tax adviser. This is general information, not legal, tax, financial, or real estate advice about your sale. Your situation may differ. Before acting on a contract, disclosure, title, tax, or pricing question, ask an appropriately licensed professional in your state.
Written and researched by Keighbor Research · drawn from the reference glossary · how we research and check what we publish
One piece of your sale. Here is where all the pieces live.
In your room, this word explains itself where it appears.
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