Grant Deed and Quitclaim Deed Notarization
Your deed must be notarized before the county will record it. I come to you and complete the acknowledgment correctly.
What a deed notarization is
California county recorders require the grantor's signature on a deed to be acknowledged before a notary before the deed can be recorded. As a notary, I meet the person transferring the property, verify their identity, confirm they are signing willingly, and complete the acknowledgment certificate so the deed is ready to record.
I do not prepare, draft, fill out, or record the deed. I notarize the signature on the deed you bring me, done correctly so the county accepts it.
Who this service is for
I help three kinds of clients get a deed notarized and ready to record.
Owners transferring or adding someone to title
You are selling, gifting, or adding a name to the deed and need the grantor's signature notarized so the county will record it.
Family moving property between relatives
You are transferring property between spouses, parents, children, or other relatives and the deed needs a notarized acknowledgment.
Clients working with an attorney or escrow
Your attorney or title company prepared the deed and asked you to have the grantor's signature notarized before it is recorded.
What gets in the way of recording a deed
A few things tend to slow down a deed transfer. Here is what I help you avoid.
Getting the deed accepted for recording
A deed with an incomplete or incorrect acknowledgment can be rejected by the county recorder. I complete the acknowledgment correctly the first time.
Signers who cannot travel
A grantor who is homebound, in a care facility, or simply busy may not be able to visit a notary's office. I come to them instead.
Uncertainty about what to expect
If you have never notarized a deed, the process and the thumbprint requirement can be a surprise. I walk you through it before we start.
Deeds are familiar paperwork to me
I spent more than 25 years in the mortgage and loan industry, so deeds and the paperwork around a property transfer are not new to me. I focus on the notarization in front of me: confirming the grantor's identity, watching them sign willingly, and completing the acknowledgment correctly so the county will record the deed.
I am a mobile notary, so I come to you. The grantor does not have to travel to me.
- Grant deed and quitclaim deed notarization at your home or office
- Acknowledgment completed correctly so the county can record the deed
- Right thumbprint recorded in the notary journal as California requires
- Mobile notary who comes to you so signers do not have to travel
Grant Deed vs. Quitclaim Deed: The Basics
The two deeds people bring me most often work differently. Here is the difference in plain terms.
Grant Deed
Transfers ownership with implied promises from the seller that they have not already transferred the property and that it is free of undisclosed encumbrances they created.
Commonly used in sales.
Quitclaim Deed
Transfers whatever interest the signer holds, with no promises about title. The signer releases their claim without guaranteeing what that claim is worth.
Commonly used between people who know each other.
Both require a notarized signature before recording.
Not sure which deed you need? Ask a real estate attorney or your title company. I notarize the deed you choose.
I cannot advise on which deed to use, how to hold title, or on tax or reassessment consequences.
What to expect at the signing
When I arrive, I check the grantor's photo identification, confirm they are signing willingly, watch them sign, and complete the acknowledgment. Then I record the signing in my notary journal.
California requires me to record the signer's right thumbprint in my notary journal for any deed affecting real property. It is a standard legal requirement, not a choice, and it helps protect property owners. I will let you know before we start so it is not a surprise.
Bring to the signing
- Valid, current government-issued photo ID for every grantor
- The complete deed, with every page, unsigned until I instruct the grantor to sign
- Every grantor present in person
Recording the deed with the county is handled by you, your attorney, or your title company. I complete the notarized acknowledgment so the deed is ready to record.
Common questions about deed notarization
What you need to know before we meet to notarize your deed.
Related notary services
Other documents that often come up alongside a deed transfer.
Interspousal Transfer Deeds
The deed used between spouses to transfer an interest in property.
Learn moreWills and Living Trusts
Deeds moving property into a trust, notarized at home or a care facility.
Learn moreLoan Signing Services
Deeds that often appear within a sale or refinance package.
Learn moreReady to get your deed notarized?
Contact StacyDeed Ready to Sign?
Call me now or schedule a deed signing and I will confirm a time and place to come to you and complete the acknowledgment.