Grant Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds & Other Property Deeds

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By the notaries at Mar Vista Cheap Mobile Notary, commissioned by the California Secretary of State · Updated October 26, 2026 · Sources: California Notary Public Handbook (Secretary of State, 2026), Government Code § 27287, Government Code § 8206, Civil Code § 1195, Penal Code § 115.5, Government Code § 8214.2

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Common types of deeds in California

Deed	Typical use
Grant deed	Most sales and many transfers. Carries implied promises that the grantor hasn’t already conveyed the property and that it’s free of undisclosed encumbrances they created
Quitclaim deed	Releases whatever interest the grantor has, with no promises. Common between family members, after divorce, or to clear title
Interspousal transfer deed	Transfers between spouses (often to change how title is held), typically with a transfer-tax exemption
Trust transfer deed	Moves property into or out of a living trust
Deed of trust	Secures a loan against the property (not a transfer of ownership). See loan documents

Choosing the deed and filling it in, including the legal description and the vesting, is legal work. A notary can’t do it. Title companies, escrow and real estate attorneys can.

What the notary does

1. Identifies each grantor with acceptable ID or credible witnesses.
2. Checks that the deed is complete (names, legal description, APN, any required statements) and has California acknowledgment wording, or attaches it.
3. Records each grantor’s signature and right thumbprint in the journal (required for real property documents).
4. Completes the acknowledgment. The county is where the grantor signed before the notary, not where the property is.
5. Makes sure the seal is clear and doesn’t overlap text, so the recorder accepts it.

Grantors can sign separately (at different times and places, even before different notaries). Each notary completes a certificate for the people they notarized.

Recording in Los Angeles County

Deeds for property in the county are recorded by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk, whose headquarters is at 12400 Imperial Highway in Norwalk; documents can also be mailed in or submitted through a title company. Expect:

• A Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) with most deeds; recording without one adds a fee.
• Documentary transfer tax, unless an exemption applies and is stated on the deed. Some cities, including Los Angeles, Culver City and Santa Monica, add their own transfer taxes.
• Recording fees, and for many documents a state housing fee.
• A property tax reassessment review by the Assessor. Some family transfers qualify for exclusions; ask the Assessor or a tax professional before you sign.

Deed fraud protections

Forged deeds are a serious problem in Los Angeles. California makes filing a forged or false document relating to a single-family residence a felony (Penal Code § 115.5), and a notary who knowingly helps with deed-of-trust fraud on a home commits a felony too (Government Code § 8214.2). The journal thumbprint exists to deter impostors. Property owners can also sign up for the Registrar-Recorder’s free email notification when documents are recorded against their property.

Common questions

Does a quitclaim deed need to be notarized in California?

Yes. Any deed must be acknowledged before a notary to be recorded, and an unrecorded deed doesn’t protect the new owner against later claims.

Does the person receiving the property sign the deed?

No. Only the grantors sign and are notarized. Grantees typically don’t sign the deed itself.

Why does the notary need my thumbprint for a deed?

California requires a journal thumbprint for every document affecting real property, to deter deed fraud.

Can you help me fill out a quitclaim deed?

No. Notaries can’t prepare deeds or advise on vesting or taxes. A title company, escrow officer or real estate attorney can.

Can I record a deed notarized in another state?

Yes. California recognizes acknowledgments taken under the laws of the place where they were made.