Create your grant deed

WARNING - You are signing away rights to property

If you are using this deed to ADD someone, be sure to include own your name in the "grantees" section or you will lose all your rights!

A deed signs away your rights to the property PERMANENTLY. There is no such thing as a "temporary" deed. You cannot change your mind later without the new owner's signature.

Be sure you understand possible side effects.

Unexpected effects of deeds

There can be many unexpected consequences of signing a grant deed. Some of these possible effects are:

changes or loss of Medi-Cal and other benefits
liability for someone else’s debts
acceleration of your mortgage (100% due now)
loss of control of the property (unable to get a mortgage, unwelcome roommates, even being evicted)
much higher property taxes (lose Prop 13 protection)
changes to who inherits your property
and more, depending on your situation.

Warning: as of February 16, 2021, transfers from parents to children or grandparents to grandchildren no longer get Prop 13 exclusion from reassessment except in limited circumstances. This is a major change and may mean an huge jump in property taxes for the new owners.

If you have any questions about possible side effects, call a lawyer or read about your options at the Law Library.

"How to find a lawyer"

"How to find free legal help"

"How to spot real estate scams"

DISCLAIMER

We offer these form wizards as a guide for the many patrons who request help filling out forms. Only you can decide which form is appropriate and what information to include.

These forms are for use only in simple situations. If you cannot easily answer any of the questions, do not use the wizard. Instead, call a lawyer or read about your options at the Law Library.

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Before you begin

Have a copy of your current deed

You will need the following information from the current deed:

Name(s) of current owners. MUST MATCH CURRENT DEED EXACTLY.
Form of title of current owners. Example: joint tenants, community property, etc.
Legal description of property (NOT the address). Example: “Lot 14 of Blackacre Addition to the City of Sacramento, as delineated on the map of said addition, recorded January 30, 1965, in Book 625, 013065.”

If you do not have a copy of the current deed, you should obtain one from the County Recorder’s office before you fill out this form. Most deeds are one to two pages and currently cost $1.00 per page in Sacramento County.

In Sacramento, the County Recorder’s Office is located at 3636 American River Dr. Ste. 110, Sacramento, CA, 95864, or phone 916-874-6334 or visit the Clerk/Recorder’s website.

Email(Required)

The completed deed will be emailed to this address.

Enter Email Confirm Email

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Date

New Owner Contact Information

Who will be recording this deed?(Required)

Enter the name of the person who will mail or deliver the deed to the Recorder's Office.

Who should tax statements be mailed to?

Usually this will be the new owner.

What street address should tax statements be mailed to?(Required)

Fill in the city, state, and zip code where tax statements should be mailed.(Required)

About the new owners (Grantees)

If you already own the property and are just adding someone to title, you MUST list your own name in the Grantee section or you will lose all rights to the property.

Names of GRANTEES - the new owner or owners(Required)

Include the names of all people or organizations who will own the property after this deed is filed.

If you are adding a name and you are also staying on the deed, list your own name and the new name.
If the property is being transferred into a trust, enter the name(s) of the trustees.
If the property is owned by a corporation or other organization, list the organization's name here.

How to hold title

The new owners should choose how to hold title. The forms of titles affects who can control and sell the property, and who inherits the property if one owner dies.

The form of title affects who can manage and sell the property and what happens to it after an owner dies. For more information about forms of title, visit our deeds page at saclaw.org/recording-deeds.

How will the new owners (grantees) hold title?(Required)

This list contains the most common forms of title, and are legal. Choose the form of title the new owners intend to use.

If the property is being transferred into a trust, select "as trustee of the."

If none of these are appropriate, use the "other field." For example, there is no option for "limited liability company," so if that applies, type it in "Other."

an unmarried person

a married person holding title as his/her/their sole and separate property

joint tenants

tenants in common

community property

community property with right of survivorship

trustee(s) of the

a California corporation

Other

Trust as Grantee

Fill in the full legal name of the GRANTEE trust as shown on the official trust documents. For example, "Mary and Jim Smith Living Trust, dated January 1, 2014."

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Number

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Number

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Number

Taxes and fees

In addition to the recording fee, the county adds either a Documentary Transfer Tax or a Building Homes and Jobs Act fee. There are a few exemptions to each of these.

Documentary transfer tax is paid on all transfers of property unless the transfer falls into an exception. There are a number of exceptions available, such as gifts, property divided in divorce, and transfers into or out of trusts or after an owner dies. Sales, debt forgiveness, or exchanges of most kinds are NOT exempt. See "Transfer Tax Exemptions" from the Sacramento County Clerk/Recorder's office for more information.

Exemption Code

For instance, if this is a gift, you can enter 11911.

Exemption explanation

For instance, if this is a gift, you can enter "Bona fide gift."

Documentary Transfer Tax Amount

If an exception applies, enter "0." If no exception applies, contact the Recorders' Office in your county to determine the rate. In March 2025, the rate in Sacramento County is $.55/$500 of the property's value. Usually the purchase price is considered the value.

City Transfer Tax Amount

None of the cities in Sacramento County add this tax, but if the property is in another county, contact the county to find out if your city does and if so, at what rate.

Computed on value(Required)

Complete this even if you do not owe Documentary Transfer Tax.

Generally your Documentary Transfer Tax is calculated based on the value of the property you are purchasing, but in situations where you are taking over a foreclosed home, you may be able to subtract existing mortgages and liens from this value.

full value of property conveyed

full value less liens and encumbrances assumed

Declaration of Exemption from Gov't Code § 27388.1 Fee (Building Homes and Jobs Act)

This is a $75 fee that applies when Documentary Transfer Tax does not. It raises money for affordable housing programs. There are a few exemptions from this fee. Any document that pays Documentary Transfer Tax is exempt.

In many cases without DTT, no exemption will apply to your transaction, but if one does, select it here.

Choose one if applicable.(Required)

Not all transactions will qualify.

Recorded concurrently "in connection with" transfer subject to Documentary Transfer Tax.

Recorded concurrently "in connection with" a transfer of residential dwelling to an owner-occupier.

Fee cap of $225.00 reached.

Not related to real property.

Not exempt.

Grantor(s) Signatures

The grantees (new owners) do not need to sign.

How many people will be signing?(Required)

Maximum of 4 signatures fit on the page, For more signatures, attach another page.

Please enter a number from 1 to 4.

Names and Titles of Signers

Name of first person signing deed(Required)

Name should match the name on the current deed. If signer is not on the deed, match their ID.

IF NEEDED: Enter the title or position you hold with your organization.

First signer: Leave blank if you are signing as an individual owner. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation or other organization, enter the title or position qualifying you to do so. For instance, "Director, Acme Inc." or "Trustee of the Joe and Jane Doe Family Trust."

Second Signer

Name of second person signing deed

Name should match the name on the current deed. If signer is not on the deed, match their ID.

IF NEEDED: Enter the title or position you hold with your organization.

Second signer: Leave blank if you are signing as an individual owner. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation or other organization, enter the title or position qualifying you to do so. For instance, "Director, Acme Inc." or "Trustee of the Joe and Jane Doe Family Trust."

Third Signer

Name of third person signing deed

Name should match the name on the current deed. If signer is not on the deed, match their ID.

IF NEEDED: Enter the title or position you hold with your organization.

Third signer: Leave blank if you are signing as an individual owner. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation or other organization, enter the title or position qualifying you to do so. For instance, "Director, Acme Inc." or "Trustee of the Joe and Jane Doe Family Trust."

Fourth Signer

Name of fourth person signing deed

Name should match the name on the current deed. If signer is not on the deed, match their ID.

IF NEEDED: Enter the title or position you hold with your organization.

Fourth signer: Leave blank if you are signing as an individual owner,. If you are signing on behalf of a corporation or other organization, enter the title or position qualifying you to do so. For instance, "Director, Acme Inc." or "Trustee of the Joe and Jane Doe Family Trust."

SacLaw Library

www.saclaw.org

Create your grant deed

Grant Deed Wizard

WARNING - You are signing away rights to property

Unexpected effects of deeds

DISCLAIMER

This form is not suitable

Before you begin

Have a copy of your current deed

New Owner Contact Information

About the Grantor

About the new owners (Grantees)

How to hold title

About the Property

Taxes and fees

Declaration of Exemption from Gov't Code § 27388.1 Fee (Building Homes and Jobs Act)

Grantor(s) Signatures

Names and Titles of Signers

Second Signer

Third Signer

Fourth Signer