California Grant Deed

You can arrange to legally transfer the deed to your house to your children before you die. To do so, you sign a deed transfer and record it with the county recorder's office. There are a few types of deeds that accomplish this in California, including a quitclaim deed, grant deed and transfer on death deed.

It is possible to be named on the title deed of a home without being on the mortgage. However, doing so assumes risks of ownership because the title is not free and clear of liens and possible other encumbrances. Free and clear means that no one else has rights to the title above the owner.

The easiest way to grant your spouse title to your home is via a quitclaim deed (Californians generally use an interspousal grant deed). With a quitclaim deed, you can name your spouse as the property's joint owner. The quitclaim deed must include the property's description, including its boundary lines.

In order to accomplish this, you can't just pen in the name on your deed. You'll need to transfer an interest by writing up another deed with the person's name on it. In California, you can use either a grant deed, a quitclaim deed or an interspousal deed, depending on your circumstances.

To change the title, you must record a new California grant deed or quitclaim deed at your county recorder's office. You can find these deeds in stationery stores or online.

An "interspousal transfer deed" transfers title (ownership) between a married couple. A gift given by one spouse to the other during the marriage is considered "separate" (owned separately), not "marital" (mutually-owned) property.

The real property must be owned by the eligible transferor who is either the parent or child. You must be a parent or child. You must complete a Claim for Reassessment Exclusion for Transfer between Parent and Child form for a gift or purchase of real property between parent and child.

A married buyer can purchase a home on his own, using only his credit, income and assets to qualify for a loan. However, since California is a community property state, the law will imply that the home is owned by both spouses jointly.