A California grant deed form is a legal document that transfers ownership of real estate from a seller to a buyer. 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.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
In addition to selling a property to a third party buyer, this form can be used when:
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.
Want to compare other deed types? Browse our deed forms guide.
The California laws regulate property relations and transactions of sale and purchase, including transferring property from one owner to another. Before you start, gather the names of the Grantor and the Grantee, the address and the legal description so the form matches the records.
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.
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.
Check if you need to pay any fees for filing the document. Usually, there is a tax fee.
Other California Deed Forms
Follow these steps in order to fill out the grant deed form and get it ready to submit, and keep a copy of the finished deed for your own records.
Use our site to get the latest Grant Deed form used in California.
In the upper left corner of the page, write the name of the party requesting the recording.
Below that, write the address where the form should be returned after the County Recorder’s Office records it.
Enter the Assessor’s Parcel Number.
First, specify the Documentary Transfer Tax. Then mark the checkbox that matches what the tax was based on. It can be based on:
Note the third option if the real property is located in an unincorporated area, and remember to write down the city name.
Next, enter the name of the seller transferring the property.
Write the name of the person or entity receiving the property and its rights.
Next, describe the real estate. Enter the following:
Date the document and give it to the Grantor to sign.
The notary public should follow the process of signing the document then fill out their part and sign it.
You need to send the form to the Recorder’s Office of the County where the property is situated.
A grant deed transfers real estate from a seller (the Grantor) to a buyer (the Grantee). Both people are named on the form, along with the address and the Assessor’s Parcel Number (APN) of the real estate.
The Grantor is the seller who transfers the real estate. The Grantee is the person or entity that receives it. The form asks for both names, so check the spelling against each person’s ID before you sign.
Gather the names of the Grantor and the Grantee, the address, the county, the Assessor’s Parcel Number and the legal description. Having them in front of you makes the form quick to complete.
Keep a copy of the signed deed for your own records, and if you have a question about submitting it, check with the County Recorder’s Office in your county.
General information, not legal or tax advice.
