Real Estate & Deeds Document Preparation Services in California
Helping property owners, investors, and families prepare the deed and real estate transaction documents they need to transfer, protect, and manage property in California.
Real Estate & Deeds Document Preparation in California
Most California real estate transactions and property transfers require a properly prepared and recorded deed. Whether you are transferring property to a trust, adding or removing a co-owner, completing a sale between private parties, or documenting a private loan secured by real property, the deed or recorded instrument must be accurate before it can be accepted for recording by the county recorder.
At Ashlar LDA, Inc., we prepare real estate deed documents and related real property transaction documents based on the information and instructions you provide. We are Legal Document Assistants, not attorneys, and we do not provide legal or title advice. We do not perform title searches or issue title insurance.
Real Estate & Deed Document Services
We prepare the following types of deed and real estate transaction documents for California property owners, investors, and families:
Grant Deed
The most common deed type used for real property transfers in California, conveying title with implied warranties from the grantor.
Quitclaim Deed
Transfers whatever interest the grantor holds in a property, commonly used for adding or removing co-owners, divorce settlements, and family transfers.
Interspousal Transfer Deed
Used to transfer property between spouses, often in connection with refinancing, divorce, or estate planning.
Trust Transfer Deed
Transfers real property into or out of a revocable living trust for estate planning or administration purposes.
Deed of Trust
Documents a private loan secured by real property, naming the borrower, lender, and trustee with the terms of the security interest.
Reconveyance Deed
Releases a deed of trust lien from the property when a secured loan has been paid in full.
Affidavit of Death
Removes a deceased co-owner from title, used for joint tenancy and community property with right of survivorship.
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
The PCOR form required by the county assessor when recording most property transfers in California.
Grant Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds, and Transfer Deeds
The type of deed needed depends on the purpose of the transfer and the relationship between the parties. We prepare the correct deed type based on the situation you describe.
- Grant deedsare used for most standard property sales and transfers between unrelated parties in California
- Quitclaim deedsare commonly used to add or remove a person from title, complete transfers between family members, or implement divorce property settlements
- Interspousal transfer deedsare used when transferring property between spouses, often to change how title is held or in connection with a refinance
- Trust transfer deedsare used to move real property into or out of a living trust, a common step in estate planning
Need a Deed Prepared?
Tell us about the property and the transfer and we will prepare the appropriate deed document based on your instructions.
Start Your Deed PreparationDeed of Trust Preparation
A deed of trust is the document used in California to secure a loan against real property. It names the borrower (trustor), the lender (beneficiary), and a neutral third party (trustee) who holds legal title until the loan is repaid. Deeds of trust are recorded with the county recorder to create a lien on the property.
We prepare deed of trust documents for private party loans, seller-carried financing, and hard money lending situations, based on the loan terms and property information you provide. When a loan secured by a deed of trust has been paid in full, we also prepare the reconveyance deed that releases the lien from title.
Common Property Transfer Situations
Real estate deeds are needed across many different situations. We assist with document preparation for transfers that arise from the following circumstances:
- Estate planning transfersmoving property into a revocable living trust to avoid probate
- Probate and estate transfersconveying property to heirs following a court order or affidavit procedure
- Divorce property settlementstransferring property from one spouse to the other per a marital settlement agreement
- Investor LLC transfersconveying property into a limited liability company for asset management purposes
- Private party saleswhere buyers and sellers are completing a transaction without institutional financing
How Our Real Estate & Deeds Document Process Works
- Tell us about the property and the transfer
Provide the property address, APN, names of the grantor and grantee, and the reason for the transfer.
- Provide vesting and ownership information
Share how title is currently held and how the new owner or owners would like to hold title after the transfer.
- We prepare the deed and supporting documents
Based on your instructions, we prepare the appropriate deed along with the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report and any other required forms.
- Review, sign, notarize, and record
Review the completed documents, sign before a notary, and record the deed with the county recorder's office in the county where the property is located.
Who Uses Our Real Estate & Deeds Services
- Property ownerstransferring real estate to a living trust, a family member, or a business entity
- Real estate investorsmoving properties into LLCs or completing private party transactions
- Private and hard money lendersdocumenting loans secured by real property with a deed of trust
- Families and heirstransferring property after a death or completing estate plan transfers