How to Get on a Title Deed

Your name on a property title deed verifies your right of ownership.
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A property title deed is the document that names the owner or owners of a house or property. When a house is purchased the deed is transferred to the buyer, recorded and filed at the Registry of Deeds office in the county where the property is located. Without your name listed on the property title, you cannot sell, refinance or transfer the deed for estate planning. A quitclaim deed is the legal instrument used to transfer ownership or add someone to a property title.

Obtain a copy of the quitclaim form from the Registry of Deeds office, where the property is located. Quitclaim forms are also available online and can be purchased at most office supply stores. Read the instructions included with the form in its entirety.

Fill out the form completely. Include the names and Social Security numbers of all parties involved, the date the deed was completed and the legal description of the property, including the complete address, city, state and Zip code. Write your name next to "recipient." Write the name of the person giving ownership rights to the property next to "grantor(s)."

Read More: How to Remove a Name From a Property Title

Have the grantor sign the completed form and have it witnessed by a certified notary public. Most states do not consider quitclaim documents valid if not notarized.

Take the quitclaim deed to the Registry of Deed's office. The document will be recorded and filed by the county's clerk.

Warnings

  • Determine whether there is a mortgage lien on the property -- meaning monthly mortgage payments are made to a bank or mortgage lender. If mortgage payments are made, the house is actually owned by the bank. Contact the mortgage lender and verify the terms and conditions of the loan. Most mortgages include a clause that requires the loan be paid in full in the event that the title is transferred or modified.

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