Property Deeds,  Warranty Deeds, Trust Deeds, Grant Deeds, Quitclaim Deeds:  In real estate, a deed is a legal instrument that transfers property rights.  Deeds usually contain a description of the real estate, the names of the respective parties as well as the signature of the person transferring the real estate.

Warranty deeds transfer ownership and provides additional promises such as promising that the property is free of liens and claims of ownership.  

Grant deeds transfer ownership and traditionally promise that the property hasn’t previously been transferred to someone else.    

Quit claim deeds transfer whatever ownership rights the transferring party may have on the property.   

A trust deed (or deed of trust) is a mortgage that transfers title to land to a trustee who hold the land as security for a loan.  When the loan is paid off, the title is transferred back to the borrower. Most states require that a deed be notarized and filed where the property is located.  Some states require the document to also be witnessed.