What protects grantees against claims of title?

Recording the deed serves a crucial function in establishing public notice about the transfer of property ownership. When a deed is recorded, it creates a permanent public record, which protects the grantee’s interest against claims by third parties. This public notice helps to establish the legal status of ownership and can prevent disputes over who holds title to a property.

Choosing to record the deed also helps to establish priority over subsequent claims. If another party attempts to claim an interest in the property after the deed has been recorded, the prior recorded deed generally takes precedence, ensuring that the grantee's ownership is officially recognized and protected.

While title insurance, warranty deeds, and title searches are all important components of real estate transactions that contribute to title protection, they serve different purposes. Title insurance provides financial protection against certain defects in the title, a warranty deed guarantees that the seller has the right to convey the property free of claims, and conducting a title search is an investigative step to identify any existing claims. However, the act of recording the deed specifically establishes public notice of the title transfer and is fundamentally what protects the grantee against subsequent claims.