Updated August 23, 2023
An Ohio deed is a document used to legally transfer interests in real estate in the State of Ohio. They generally require the name of the grantor (seller) and the grantee (buyer) and the amount paid for the property, in addition to a legal description of the property. The deed must be signed and then acknowledged by a notary. Deeds are then recorded with the recorder’s office in the county in which the property is located. When acquiring property, it is prudent to know exactly what it is you’re acquiring so having a title search (or property search) completed is important.
Laws – Title LIII, Chapter 5301 & Chapter 5302
Notary Public (R.C. § 5301.01) – All deeds are to be signed in the presence of a Notary Public (§ 5301.01).
Recording (R.C. § 5301.25) – All property that is recorded must be done at the County Recorder’s Office in the jurisdiction where the land is located.
Deed Types (4)
General Warranty – Transfers a grantor’s interest in a property with a guarantee that they own a clear title to the property and is legally authorized to sell the property.
Download: PDF, MS Word, Open Document
Quit Claim – Used to transfer interests in property but without a guarantee from the grantor. The grantor is merely transferring whatever interest they may (or may not) have in the property.
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Limited Warranty – Offers a warranty that is limited to title issues that arise from the grantor’s ownership of the property but not previous ownerships.
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Transfer on Death – Allows a person to designate a beneficiary to receive their real property upon their death.
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Ohio Property Search (6 steps)
Performing an Ohio property search allows buyers to verify the current status of a property along with the previous transfer history. The search will provide the grantor’s name and land tenure status (i.e., whether they have any unresolved related to the title). It is important to research this information to be sure that no outstanding issues remain on the title upon transfer to the buyer. In Ohio, searches will need to be conducted with the county recorder’s office where the files are kept.
Step 1
Begin by going to the Ohio County Recorders Association Website.
Step 2
Scroll down the page and locate the county name where the property is located.
Step 3
Select the county website by clicking the link found next to “On Line Search.” For this example, we will use Lawrence County.
Step 4
Next, click on the yellow button titled “GO TO RECORD SEARCH.”
Step 5
Enter the search information in the empty spaces. When ready to proceed, submit the query by selecting either “Search (Directory)” or “Search (All Matches).”
Step 6
The following page provides a list of all records that match the data entered in the search. Select the appropriate record to access the details of that particular file.
