What's the Difference between a Title and a Deed?
February 16, 2018

What Is a Title?
Generally speaking, a title is proof of ownership over property, no matter what type of property it is. The title defines the terms of ownership, or in other words, the rights the owner has and the extent of those rights. The title is related to the expression "to have title," which is simply to have legal rights to a property. However, a person who holds a title might not have full rights to a property. For example, an owner might be entitled to living on a specific piece of land but cannot lease it or build on it.The title is not a physical document, but rather a status that is represented by a compilation of all the property's legal records over an extended period of time and listed on a certified title abstract, which is not available in public records. Since a title is not a physical document by definition, you may be wondering how a title can be ascertained. Titles can be proved with a series of documents—like deeds, liens, mortgages, releases—that certify all the events and legal records throughout the history of a property and define its current status.

What Is a Deed?
Deeds are written statements of property. They are the only means by which property can be legally transferred, and this transfer usually happens between two individuals: the grantor (the "original" owner of the property) and the grantee (the person buying the property and receiving ownership rights). Deeds contain the names of the grantor and the grantee, a description of the property, and the signature of the person who is transferring the property. Deeds are not directly connected to or influence any other documents.Deeds must be duly notarized and filed, and sometimes require witnesses. Without this procedure, which is done by a notary, a deed is not legally binding. The grantor must record the deed with the land records office in the county where the property is located. The office will keep a copy, while the grantor will retain the original. A qualified real estate attorney must be consulted in order to guarantee that everything about the deed is in order. Once you hold the deed, you can prove legal ownership of the property.
Differences between a Title and a Deed
In one sentence: a title is legal ownership in an abstract sense, but the deed is a statement of legal ownership in written form. Here is a table with a summary of the differences between a deed and a title: