What is a Deed?
A deed is a legal document that is signed and delivered, especially one regarding the ownership of property or legal rights. It is a tangible document that confirms the transfer of ownership from one party to another, typically associated with transferring title to property. In common law, a deed is any legal instrument in writing which passes, affirms, or confirms an interest, right, or property and is signed, attested, delivered, and in some jurisdictions, sealed. The deed is the modern descendant of the medieval charter, and delivery is thought to symbolically replace the ancient ceremony of livery of seisin.
When you purchase a home, you receive the property deed, which is a legal document that provides a description of the property and declares your ownership, or title, over it. The deed includes a legal description of the property and property lines, the full names and addresses of the grantor and grantee, and specific language that officially transfers ownership. It is the sellers responsibility to get the deed to the buyer, either at or after closing, and the deed will also be filed at the local courthouse or county assessors office.
In summary, a deed is a physical legal document that grants someone ownership of a property, while a title is the concept that gives you the right to ownership, and the deed is the document that transfers, or passes on, the title or the right to ownership.
