United States Deeds

Portal:United States Land and Property

A deed is the written legal document transferring ownership of property. Generally county offices have the jurisdiction for the recording of deeds except for Connecticut, Vermont, and Rhode Island, which are kept in the town records.

Be aware that deed books contain a variety of records relating to property, not just land. Deed books might contain mortgages, leases, the sale or manumission of slaves, powers of attorney, indentures, adoptions, livestock brands, wills, apprentice papers, tax lists, and other miscellaneous documents.

Parts of a land deed

 * Date of land sale and date of recording
 * Names of grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer)
 * Granting clause, specifying the interest being transferred and consideration
 * Property description
 * Recital clause, if present, states how the seller got the land
 * Warranty section, stating how the seller will be liable to the buyer in case of later problems with the land
 * Execution Section containing acknowledgements, seals, and signatures