What Is a Property Deed?

Deeds are the legal documents that transfer title from one person to another. Unlike other sales, transfers of real property must be in writing. Deeds must be recorded in the courthouse or assessor's office to make them fully binding in most states, but a failure to file them does not change the transfer of title. It just means that the Deed is not perfected. An imperfect Deed does not mean that there is a problem with the title. It's just a problem with the way that the paperwork surrounding the Deed was handled.