California Deed Forms & Templates

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Have you recently bought a new property in California and want to ensure you have all the necessary California deed forms? If so, you’ve come to the right place. This guide provides essential information about a California warranty deed, a California quitclaim deed, and other California deed forms.

California General Warranty Deed

A deed form entails the legal transfer of property from the grantor or seller to the grantee or buyer. The California general warranty deed entails the same legal transfer of ownership from the grantor’s real estate property to the grantee.

The document guarantees that there are no liens on the property. You can learn more about the laws surrounding California’s warranty deed forms here.

California Quitclaim Deed

A California quitclaim deed is unique and separate from other deed forms. It entails transferring real estate property without guaranteeing the title to the property. Anyone who transfers property with a quitclaim deed makes no guarantee or promise that they own the property or have a title to the property.

A California quitclaim deed is used in the following situations:

  • Real estate gifts
  • Developing a deed to transfer property automatically upon death
  • Taking a former spouse off of a real estate title after a divorce
  • Removing a spouse’s name from a real estate title
  • Removing clouds on a real estate property title

You can access a California quitclaim deed here.

California Special Warranty Deed

The California special warranty deed is similar to a general warranty deed form. However, the difference is the period that matters, which is when the seller owned the property.

Essentially, it means the seller doesn’t make any guarantees regarding the prior holders of the deed. In California, it is much more likely that a special warranty deed is used to sell commercial real estate property instead of private residential property.

California Deed of Trust

A California property deed also includes the California deed of trust. This form develops a security interest in property where the legal title gets transferred to a trustee who holds it as security as a loan between the borrower and the lender.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

You can transfer a deed in California by following these steps:

  • Select the correct deed type for your real estate transaction
  • Fill out the form completely
  • Sign the form
  • File the deed at the county recorder’s department/office

You will get a deed to a property you buy in California once you complete the purchase. You can get a copy of your deed by contacting the recorder’s office where your home or property is located.

If you’re looking for online deed transfer services, you will likely find ones that cost about $250 along with standard filing fees. A quitclaim deed in Los Angeles county, however, costs approximately $102 when all fees get taken into account. Every extra page is another $3.

Someone acting on behalf of the two parties operating in the property sale process usually creates the deed, such as a real estate attorney or title agency. One of the two parties can also prepare it.