If you have lost or misplaced your original deed (or other legal document which has been recorded), you can obtain a certified copy from the Recording Office where the original document was recorded. A certified copy has the legal validity of the original document.
Under Florida law, an unrecorded deed that is notarized and delivered, will be valid as between the parties (the grantor and grantee). However, as far as creditors or purchasers, an unrecorded deed is void because there was no notice of the transaction.
Deed in Florida – Explaining the Concept At the closing process, both the buyer and the seller must sign the deed to settle the real estate transaction. Unlike the title, the deed is a physical document that must be kept in a safe place by the buyer.
When you transfer title and ownership of real estate in Florida, you sign a deed conveying or transferring the property to the new owner. In most real estate closings, the seller is responsible for providing the deed that is signed at closing.
How can I transfer a property deed from a deceased relative in Florida? If the controlling deed does not contain life estate language, then the only way to transfer property without a will is by either a summary administration or by a formal probate administration based on Florida's intestacy law.
You may also contact the Broward County Call Center at 954-831-4000 for further assistance. If you are not able to locate a copy of the survey, you should contact a survey company for information about obtaining a new survey for your property.