There are a few situations when you need to change the home's title: You get married. If you get married and change your name, it's smart to also change the title on your home. You get divorced. Your spouse dies. You inherit a home.
For a deed to be legal, it must state the name of the buyer and the seller, describe the property being transferred, and include the signature of the party transferring the property. In addition to being either official or private, deeds are classified as general warranty, special warranty, or quitclaim.
If you need a copy of the current deed, contact or visit the Alameda County Recorder's Office. Copies of deeds are not available off the internet. There is an online name index.