Updated April 12, 2024
A Washington D.C. general warranty deed is a form used to authorize the transfer of property between two parties. In signing a general warranty deed, the seller (also known as the grantor) is offering to the buyer (also known as the grantee) a guarantee that the title is free of any defects. This kind of deed extends to the buyer the highest possible form of protection.
Laws – DC Code, Title 42, Chapter 6
Recording the Deed
The deed, once signed, must be filed and recorded at the DC Office of Recorder of Deeds, either online or in person. In-person appointments can be made here.[2]
Statutory Form
Must contain the words, either substantially or as-is, “that he will warrant generally the property hereby conveyed,” or a grant containing the words “with general warranty.”[3]
How To Write
I. DC Declaration Preparer
(1) Preparer Of Washington DC Statement. The name of the individual responsible for completing this form so that the property owner may execute it should be produced in the first section.
(2) Contact Mailing Address. A record of the D.C. statement preparer’s current mailing address is required once his or her name has been displayed. Keep in mind that this address may be used to contact the preparer should there be any questions or clerical issues therefore it must be reliable and well-monitored.
II. Recorded Material Recipient
(3) Authorized Post-Filing Recipient. The Washington D.C. Office Of Recorder Of Deeds must release this paperwork upon the completion of its filing. Furthermore, the recipient of the filed document must be named as such before the grantor executes it. Identify the authorized D.C. filing recipient in the second part of the header.
(4) Formal Mailing Address. Naturally, the Washington D.C. Office Of Recorder Of Deeds will need the official mailing address of the authorized recipient. Several lines have been provided for an orderly presentation of this address.
III. DC Property Payment
(5) Payment Submitted. The transaction where the real property is paid for and released will need to be covered in this paperwork. Therefore a record of the exact amount that was paid to the D.C. real property owner for the real estate will have to be documented, in writing, at the onset of the declaration.
(6) Confirmation Of DC Property Payment. Deliver a confirmation of the amount submitted for the D.C. real property by documenting it numerically within the parentheses.
IV. DC Real Property Owner
(7) Washington DC Real Property Owner. The owner of Washington D.C. real estate or real property requires identification. This will be the party(ies) that owns and, using this paperwork, will release such ownership over real estate located in Washington D.C. Every one of the D.C. property owners will be the signature grantors of the concerned real estate provided he or she is named in the first statement.
(8) Status Of DC Property Grantor. The Washington D.C. property owner may be a private party, a business entity, or even a nonprofit charity organization. In any case, the status held by the Washington D.C. property owner (grantor) must be clarified using the space provided.
(9) Address Of DC Property Grantor. The first line of the Washington D.C. grantor’s home address must be displayed with his or her name.
(10) County, City, And State/District. The next line found in the Washington D.C. grantor’s home address will need to be completed with a presentation of its county, city, and state (or the district it is located in).
V. DC Property Buyer
(11) Buyer Of Washington DC Real Property. The individual (or the business entity) that has paid for the Washington D.C. property and intends to use this paperwork to seize ownership must be named as the new owner or the Washington D.C. property grantee. Only the grantees named in this paragraph can utilize this paperwork to take ownership of the concerned D.C. real estate.
(12) Grantee Status. The buyer or Washington D.C. grantee must also be properly classified. To this end, a record of his, her, or its status must be produced (i.e. single adult, corporation, etc.)
(13) Address Of DC Property Grantee. The street address of the D.C. property grantee (buyer) is the next required item. Deliver this as the first address line of the D.C. property grantee’s home address.
(14) County, City, And State/District. Furnish the name of the county, the city, and the state or the district where the D.C. property grantee lives.
VI. DC Property Information
(15) County And District Of Jurisdiction. The name of the county and district of jurisdiction for the property behind this transaction must be documented. This will, commonly, be the same county and district where the property can be visited in person.
(16) Legal Description Of DC Real Property. The Washington D.C. Office Of Recorder of Deeds would have processed the last transfer of ownership for this real estate (ideally). This office as well as the current deed of the property should contain the legal description of the D.C. real estate as it appears on the record books.
VII. DC Grantor Signature Execution
(17) Washington DC Grantor Signature. As discussed, the owner of Washington D.C. real estate will be required to sign his or her name so that this document can function properly. Since the release of real estate in Washington D.C. can have a significant financial impact, such a signature will need to be verified by a Notary Public as being presented by the grantor personally. Make sure every Washington D.C. grantor identified as such in the first paragraph, signs his or her name before a qualified Notary Public to this document.
(18) Full Name And Address Of DC Grantor. After submitting his or her signature, the D.C. grantor must print his or her name and present his or her home address. This will aid in confirming the identity of the signature party; therefore, every grantor or D.C. real estate will need to complete this process.
(19) Participating Notary Public. Washington D.C. requires that the signature grantor’s identity is verified at the time of signing this document. The Notary Public obtained for this task will complete the final portion of this form with proof that the notarization of this signing was completed successfully.
