Deed requirements by state

All states

Every state, side by side

The five fields that differ most, and that most often decide whether a deed records first time.

Recording fees are typical first-page figures and are set locally. Confirm with your county before mailing.

Patterns worth knowing

4 states require witnesses

Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, South Carolina. Everywhere else, a notarial acknowledgment on its own is enough.

15 states have no transfer tax

Alaska, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Wyoming. Elsewhere the rate ranges from Colorado's 0.01% to Delaware's 4%.

32 states plus DC allow transfer-on-death deeds

Published counts vary between about 29 and 33 depending on whether Ohio's designation affidavit and Wisconsin's TOD designation are counted. Check your own state above.

5 states recognize lady bird deeds

Florida, Michigan, Texas, Vermont, West Virginia. Outside those, the retained power to sell is generally not accepted by title companies.

9 community property states

Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, Wisconsin. In all of them both spouses must sign to convey community real property.

Louisiana does not use common-law deeds at all

It is the only civil law jurisdiction in the US. Property moves by act of sale or act of donation before a notary and two witnesses. Deedly does not generate Louisiana instruments.