A grant deed is an important legal document used to transfer ownership of real estate. The process of transferring real property to a new owner is known as conveyance, and a grant deed can serve as an effective tool to accomplish this. Grant deeds are used in tax or foreclosure sales, transfers from one family member to another, and in other situations where it is important that the parties have a record of the transfer.

Unlike quitclaim deeds, which offer limited protection to buyers, a grant deed provides slightly more assurance that the title to the property being conveyed is clear, and that any earlier conveyances have already been dealt with. Unlike general warranty deeds, however, it does not offer protection against issues that may arise from past title issues.

In order to be legally valid, a grant deed must contain several components. It must include the names of the grantor (the seller) and grantee (the buyer), an accurate description of the property being transferred, and words of conveying, such as “grant and conveys.” The grantor’s signature and date must also be included.

In addition, many states require a grant deed to be witnessed by a notary public, in order to prove that the grantor is of legal capacity to grant the deed and that they are voluntarily and knowingly making the transfer. It is important that the grant deed be drafted accurately according to the requirements of the relevant state, and should legally reviewed by a qualified lawyer or other professional for accuracy.

A grant deed is an important legal document used to transfer ownership of real estate, and must be drafted and executed accurately to be valid. It offers more assurance to buyers than a quitclaim deed but less assurance than a general warranty deed. Witnessing by a notary public is also likely to be required, in order to ensure the validity of the conveyance.