In Texas, a deed must be signed by:
Question & Answer
Review the question and all answer choices
Both grantor and grantee
Requiring both grantor and grantee signatures is incorrect under Texas law; the grantee's acceptance is legally presumed upon delivery of the deed, and the Texas Property Code only mandates the grantor's signature for a valid conveyance.
The grantor only
The grantee only
The grantee's signature alone would be meaningless on a deed because the grantee has no ownership interest to convey at the time of execution; it is the grantor who holds title and must execute the transfer.
Two witnesses
Texas does not require two witnesses for a deed to be valid; while some states have witness requirements, Texas relies on notarization (acknowledgment) by the grantor rather than witness signatures as the authentication mechanism for deeds.
Why is this correct?
Under Texas Property Code § 5.021, a deed conveying real property must be in writing and signed by the grantor (or the grantor's authorized agent) but does not require the grantee's signature to be valid. The grantee's acceptance of the deed is legally presumed when delivery occurs, because receiving property is considered to be in the grantee's best interest. This one-signature rule streamlines real estate transactions and is consistent with the common law tradition that a conveyance is the grantor's act, not a bilateral contract requiring mutual signatures.
Continue Learning
Explore this topic in different formats
More Property Ownership Videos
Continue learning with related video lessons
The rights of ownership, including the right to use, possess, enjoy, and dispose of a thing in any legal way so as to exclude everyone else without rights from interfering, are called
3:10 • 0 views
Arizona is a community property state. This means:
2:25 • 0 views
An owner sold a parcel of real estate to a buyer with the stipulation that the buyer was not allowed to sell alcohol from the prem- ises. The buyer sold the property 10 years later to a buyer who converted the build- ing into a convenience store that sold beer. Should the owner or owner’s heirs claim a right of re-entry, what would be the basis for the lawsuit?
2:46 • 0 views
The highest form of property ownership in the United States is:
2:35 • 0 views
In a deed, the clause that defines the nature of the estate being granted is the:
2:45 • 0 views
Ready to Ace Your Real Estate Exam?
Access 2,000+ free video lessons covering all 11 exam topics.