Types of Real Estate Property Deeds

PROTECT MY ASSETS

Complete form or call +1-800-830-1055

The American Bar Association lists knowing the type of deed that will convey the property as one of the most important issues for potential real estate buyers.The types of real estate deeds one uses, therefore, can have a major impact on asset protection from lawsuits. Real estate is one of the most important financial investments that a person can make. So, it is essential for those looking at real estate to be aware of such key issues and how choosing the right deed could affect the value of their purchase and tax consequences.

Real Estate Deed Types by State

What Are Deeds?

Deeds are legal documents which people use to transfer the title of a property from one party to another. They must be made in writing. In order for courts to consider deeds as legally binding, people must register them as a matter of public record. People usually record them at local assessor’s office in the county where the property is located.

There are many ways to hold title. It is the deed, itself, that transfers title to the other party and/or alternate vesting type. Requirements for creating legally valid deeds vary by state. However, there are several requirements which all states share.

  1. The grantor of the deed must have the legal right to transfer the property. They must also be legally competent to issue a contract.
  2. The grantor or grantors must sign the deed.
  3. One must write a clear description of the property.
  4. The deed must use all necessary legal terms required by the state.
  5. The deed must be legally delivered to the grantee or their representative.
  6. The grantee must accept the deed.

real estate deeds by state

Types of Real Estate Deeds by State

State Types of Deeds
Alabama General Warranty, Quitclaim Deed, Statutory (Special) Warranty Deed, Life Estate Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Interspousal Transfer Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Alaska Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed , Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Interspousal Transfer Grant Deed , Easement Deed
Arizona Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Trustee Deed,, Easement Deed
Arkansas Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
California Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Grant Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed, Gift Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Easement Deed
Colorado Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Bargain and Sale Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed, Gift Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Easement Deed
Connecticut Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Trustee Deed, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed
Delaware Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Grant Deed
District of Columbia Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Easement Deed
Florida Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Florida Lady Bird Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Georgia Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Trustee Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Hawaii Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Idaho Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Illinois Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Gift Deed, Transfer on Death Instrument, Trustee Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Indiana Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quit Claim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed
Iowa Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Warranty, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Warranty Deed
Kansas Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Kentucky Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Louisiana Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Maine Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Covenant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed
Maryland Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Massachusetts Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Quitclaim Deed with Covenants, Gift Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Michigan Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
Minnesota Warranty Deed, Limited Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed, Easement Deed, Gift Deed,
Mississippi Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Gift Deed
Missouri Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Montana Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Beneficiary Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Nebraska Warranty, Special Warranty, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed
Nevada Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
New Hampshire Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed. Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed
New Jersey Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Bargain and Sale Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
New Mexico Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed. Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
New York Warranty, Special Warranty Deed, Bargain and Sale Deed with Covenants. Bargain and Sale Deed without Covenants, Easement Deed
North Carolina Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Easement Deed
North Dakota Warranty Deed, Special Warranty, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed
Ohio Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Limited Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Oklahoma Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Oregon Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Bargain and Sale Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Pennsylvania Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Rhode Island Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
South Carolina Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
South Dakota Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Gift Deed. Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed
Tennessee Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Easement Deed, Quitclaim Deed
Texas Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Lady Bird Deed, Easement Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed , Gift Deed, Trustee Deed
Utah Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Easement Deed, Grant Deed, Gift Deed, Trustee Deed
Vermont Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Gift Deed. Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed
Virginia Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Life Estate Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed, Trustee Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed
Washington Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Bargain and Sale Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
West Virginia Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Gift Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Wisconsin Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Trustee Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed
Wyoming Warranty Deed, Special Warranty Deed, Quitclaim Deed, Grant Deed, Easement Deed, Gift Deed, Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed

 

Title Deed

Types of Deeds Used For Real-Estate

There are a number of different types of deeds used to transfer property based on the situation surrounding the transfer. The following types of deeds are commonly used in real estate transactions.

warranty deed

General Warranty Deed

General warranty deeds offer the strongest protection for the grantee. This type of deed offers several warranties made by the grantor on behalf of the grantee. The first warranty is that the grantor holds the title in good standing when the transfer is made. The guarantee of a clear title remains after the property is transferred to the grantee. Another warranty made by the grantor is the freedom from encumbrances except those explicitly stated in the deed. General warranty deeds also usually include a third guarantee that the grantor will defend the right of possession to the grantee above all others. Claims arising during or prior to the grantor’s ownership are covered by a general warranty deed.

Special Warranty Deed or Limited Warrant Deed

Special warranty deeds, sometimes referred to as Limited Warranty Deeds, offer fewer protections for the grantee than general warranty deeds. The grantor guarantees only that no claims against the title of the property were made while they owned the property. A special warranty deed does not guarantee that no claims were made on the property prior to the grantor’s ownership.

Interspousal Transfer Grant Deed

Interspousal transfer grant deeds, or interspousal transfer deeds, are used to transfer the title of a property from one spouse to another. This type of deed is useful when one spouse wants to add the other spouse to the title of a property. It is also used for dividing property as the result of a divorce settlement or when a married couple chooses to do so for legal or financial reasons.

Quitclaim Deed

Quitclaim Deed

Quitclaim deeds allow a person to relinquish their interest in a property without explicitly naming their interest. It does so without making any warranties about their interest or rights while they owned the property. Quitclaim deeds are most frequently used to transfer property between family members.

Quitclaim Deed With Covenants

A quitclaim deed with covenants works the same way as a conventional quitclaim deed with one exception. Quitclaim deeds with covenants make a warranty that no claims against the title of the property were made while the grantor owned the property.

Grant Deed

Grant Deed

Grant deed are very similar to warranty deeds. They guarantee that the grantor holds the title in good standing when the property transfer is made. In addition, they guarantee that the title is free from encumbrances other than those explicitly stated in the deed. They do not, however, guarantee that the grantor will defend the grantee should other previous claims against the title arise.

Easement Deed

An easement deed allows a person who is not the owner of a property to use a portion of that property for a specific purpose. The easement deed is a written agreement which specifies what part of the land may be used and how it may be used. An easement deed does not convey any rights of ownership to the grantee.

Gift Deed

A gift deed is a deed which allows a property to be transferred without any money changing hands. In this case, the grantor and grantee of the deed are referred to as the donor and donee. Donors must be legally solvent in order to make a gift of property.

Transfer on Death (Beneficiary) Deed

Transfer on death deeds or beneficiary deeds are used to transfer property upon the owner’s death without the need for probate. Beneficiaries of transfer on death or beneficiary deeds have no rights to the property until the owner has passed away.

Bargain and Sale Deed

Bargain and Sale Deed

Bargain and sale deeds are used to transfer the title of a property without making any warranties against encumbrances. This type of deed is used frequently in tax sales and foreclosures. It is also commonly used for older properties where it is difficult to secure warranties against previous claims on the title.

Deed Types

Bargain and Sale Deed With Covenants

A bargain and sale deed with covenants makes a single warranty that the grantor has not committed any act which would encumber the title of the property. In all other ways, a bargain and sale deed with covenants is the same as a traditional bargain and sale deed.

Trustee Deed

Trustee deeds transfer the legal ownership of a real property from the owner to a third-party trustee. These deeds convey the title of the property without making any warranties or guarantees. Trustee deeds are frequently used in bankruptcy and foreclosure sales.

Life Estate or Lady Bird Deed

Life estate deeds allow a person to transfer a property to a beneficiary during their lifetime while retaining an interest in the property. When the grantor of the life estate deed passes away, the grantee inherits the grantor’s remaining interest in the property.

Conclusion

The property type of ownership is essential for an effective asset protection strategy to work. The deed is the tool people use to transfer the title of real property. There are a variety of types deeds that are legal in each state. In order for the courts to recognize their validity, they must be in writing and publicly recorded. The recordation is typically done in the county recorder’s office in the county where the property is located. If you have decided on the type of deed that you need and have the necessary property information, contact us and we can prepare it for you.