California Grant Deed Form

If you decide to sell real estate in California, you need to be ready to deal with paperwork. In addition to the sales contract, you need to fill out a Grant Deed. In California, this is the equivalent of the Warranty Deed used in other states.

This form provides a limited warranty of title. The property seller (the Grantor) guarantees that there were no problems with the property during their ownership but does not guarantee the absence of such issues before the property acquisition. Learn more about this in our guide: https://formspal.com/deed-forms/.

In addition to selling a property to a third party buyer, this form can be used when:

  • Transfer of property to a trust
  • Moving from personal ownership to business
  • Selling commercial real estate
  • And in some other situations

Key Feature: The Grantor is not responsible for any circumstances or problems occurring before they acquired the property.

Since special legal wording is used in preparing the document, we advise you to use our form-building software to get the right form in a short amount of time.

Grant Deed Laws and Requirements in California

The California laws regulate property relations and transactions of sale and purchase, including transferring property from one owner to another.

Laws

Signing requirements

The document requires a Grantor’s signature. The grantor signs the form in the presence of a notary public who signs and fills in the All-Purpose Acknowledgment.

Recording requirements

It is not enough just to have the form certified by a notary public. It must also be filed with the Recorder. You should send the form to their Office located in the County where the property is situated.

Fees

Check if you need to pay any fees for filing the document. Usually, there is a tax fee.

Extra requirements

  • Form BOE-502-A. You also need to submit an additional document along with this form—Preliminary Change of Ownership.
  • Tax Assessor’s Parcel ID. You should know in advance and indicate the Parcel ID in the legal description list.

How to Fill Out and File a Grant Deed in California

This part describes the steps to follow to create a form and submit it for registration without any problems.

Download the Grant Deed Form

Use our site to get the latest Grant Deed used by California citizens.

Specify Who Requests the Recording

In the upper left corner of the page, write down the name of the form placeholder.

Enter the Physical Address

Below you should indicate the address to which the form will be returned after it is marked in the Recorder’s Office of the County.

Write Down the APN

Enter the Assessor’s Parcel Number.

Check the Documentary Transfer Tax

First, specify the Documentary Transfer Tax. Further, depending on what it was based on, you need to mark the appropriate checkbox. It can be based on:

  • The property’s total value
  • The total value of encumbrances, items, etc.

Note the third option if the real property is located in an unincorporated area; remember to write down the city name.

Name the Grantor

Next, enter the name of the seller transferring the property.

Enter the Grantee’s Data

It is also necessary to indicate to whom the property and its rights are being transferred.

Provide Info Regarding the Subject Real Property

The next part concerns the property itself. You should enter:

  • County where the property is located
  • Address
  • Complete legal description (including Parcel ID)

Put the Date and Signatures

Date the document and give it to the Grantor to sign.

Let the Notary Public Complete the Document

The notary public should follow the process of signing the document then fill out their part and sign it.

Submit Your Document for Registration

You need to send the form to the Recorder’s Office of the County where the property is situated.

Published: Apr 15, 2022