General Warranty Deed

Write the county where the property is located on line provided next to the words "County of" beneath the words "The State of Texas." Write the name and address of the grantor on the lines provided after the words "Know all men by these presents, That I."

The Texas General Warranty Deed is a form that transfers real estate ownership in the clearest possible manner promising the new owner that there are no title defects such as liens or encumbrances.

To make the form legally binding, you must sign it in front of a notary public. You must then file your signed and notarized deed with the county office that's in charge of recording property documents. Once the grantee signs the warranty deed, he/she legally has ownership and claim to the property.

In Texas, you can't add your spouse's name to an existing deed, but you can create a new deed by transferring the property from yourself to you and your spouse jointly. You can do this by using either a deed without warranty or a quit claim deed.

If you've recently married and already own a home or other real estate, you may want to add your new spouse to the deed for your property so the two of you own it jointly. To add a spouse to a deed, all you have to do is literally fill out, sign and record a new deed in your county recorder's office.

Typically, the lender will provide you with a copy of the deed of trust after the closing. The original warranty deeds are often mailed to the grantee after they are recorded. These are your original copies and should be kept in a safe place, such as a fireproof lockbox or a safe deposit box at a financial institution.

The name and address of the seller (called the grantor) The name and address of the buyer (called the grantee) A legal description of the property (found on the previous deed) A statement that the grantor is transferring the property to the grantee.

In Texas, you can't add your spouse's name to an existing deed, but you can create a new deed by transferring the property from yourself to you and your spouse jointly. You can do this by using either a deed without warranty or a quit claim deed.

Fill out the "grantor" section of the warranty deed. The grantors are the givers, or current owners, of the property. Use the legal name of each grantor and insert current addresses after each grantor's name.