What is a deed?

A deed is fundamentally a legal document that conveys ownership of property. It serves as a written instrument that formally transfers title from one party to another. The significance of a deed lies in its ability to provide evidence of the transfer, detailing the rights and interests being conveyed, which can include specific information such as the names of the grantor (seller) and grantee (buyer), a legal description of the property, and any conditions or restrictions related to the conveyance.

While other options touch upon aspects relevant to real estate transactions, they do not fulfill the definition of a deed. A brief summary of a property’s title history is typically referred to as a title abstract or title report, which helps assess the title's status but does not involve the transfer of ownership. The document outlining property tax obligations pertains to tax assessment notices or statements, which outline the financial responsibilities of property owners rather than the ownership transfer itself. A contract for the sale of real estate is an agreement between parties regarding the terms of sale but is not the actual transfer of ownership, which occurs through the execution of a deed. Each of these documents has its distinct purpose in the real estate process, but only the deed directly conveys ownership.