How to change your name on a house deed
There are two different situations here and they need different documents. If your legal name changed, you record a new deed from your old name to your new one. If the original deed has a typo, you record a corrective deed that fixes the error and references the original.
Which situation are you in?
| Situation | Document | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You got married or divorced and changed your name | Quitclaim deed | A transfer from the old legal name to the new one, keeping the chain of title continuous |
| The deed misspells your name | Corrective deed | Fixes the error, references the original recording, and states what is being corrected |
| The deed has the wrong legal description | Corrective deed, and usually a lawyer | The original grantor generally has to sign, which can be difficult years later |
| You're adding or removing a person | Quitclaim deed | That's a transfer, not a name change |
After marriage or divorce
- Update the underlying records firstSocial Security, driver's license, and passport. The notary will check your ID against the name on the deed.
- Prepare a quitclaim deedGrantor: *Margaret Ellen Smith, now known as Margaret Ellen Whitfield*. Grantee: *Margaret Ellen Whitfield*. The 'now known as' recital is what ties the two names together in the record.
- Notarize and recordA name-change deed transfers nothing of value, so transfer tax is not normally due, but you still claim the exemption on the form.
Correcting a typo
A corrective deed (also called a deed of correction or, in some states, a scrivener's affidavit) restates the original transfer with the error fixed. It must reference the original deed's recording information and say plainly what is being corrected. Minor errors in the grantee's name can usually be fixed by the current owner. Errors in the grantor's name, or in the legal description, generally require the original grantor to sign, which is why catching these early matters.
Does a misspelling actually matter?
Often not for ownership. Courts apply *idem sonans*, the principle that names sounding the same are treated as the same. It matters enormously in practice, because a title examiner at your next sale or refinance will flag it, and fixing it under time pressure at a closing is far more expensive than fixing it now.
$39. We generate a corrective deed with the original recording reference and the correction recital.
Common questions
It is not legally required. Your ownership is unaffected by a name change. Doing it prevents a title objection at your next sale or refinance, and it makes the record match your ID, which saves an awkward conversation at closing.
$39 with Deedly plus the county recording fee, usually $10–$100. An attorney typically charges $200–$500. Name-change and correction deeds are almost always exempt from transfer tax because nothing of value is being transferred.
No. A recorded document cannot be altered. The recorded image is the permanent record. Any change requires a new recorded instrument.
Keep reading
Deedly is not a law firm
We provide self-help software and state-specific statutory forms; you make your own decisions about your property. Using Deedly does not create an attorney-client relationship, and nothing here is legal advice. If your situation is complex or contested, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.