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 figures for a short deed; confirm the current fee with the recording office. Confirm with your county before mailing.

For each state's rate, a $300,000 example and a source for every figure, see the transfer tax and recording fee table.

Patterns worth knowing

5 states require witnesses

Connecticut, 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%.

34 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.

6 states recognize lady bird deeds

Florida, Michigan, Rhode Island, 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 state in the US. Property moves by act of sale, exchange or donation, normally passed before a notary and two witnesses. Deedly does not prepare Louisiana documents.