Notary for Title Transfer in California

Title transfers in California often require notarization to be legally valid and recorded with the appropriate government office. Whether you are transferring real property, adding someone to a title, or changing ownership for estate planning purposes, understanding the notary requirements helps you complete the process smoothly.

What Is a Title Transfer?

A title transfer is the legal process of changing ownership of an asset from one party to another. In real estate, this means transferring the legal right to own and use a property. The transfer is accomplished by executing and recording a deed, which must be notarized before the county recorder will accept it.

Real Property Title Transfers

The most common type of title transfer involves real estate. Here are the situations that typically require a notarized title transfer in California:

Selling or Buying Property

Every real estate sale involves a title transfer from the seller to the buyer. The grant deed or warranty deed must be signed by the seller and notarized before recording.

Adding or Removing a Spouse

After marriage, divorce, or death, homeowners often need to add or remove a name from the property title. This requires a quitclaim deed or interspousal transfer deed, which must be notarized.

Transferring Property to a Trust

A common estate planning strategy involves transferring your home into a living trust. This requires a trust transfer deed, notarized by the property owner.

Gifting Property

If you are gifting real estate to a family member, the transfer deed must be notarized and recorded just like any other property transfer.

The Notarization Process for Title Transfers

The process is straightforward but must be done correctly:

1. Prepare the deed: Have the appropriate deed prepared by an attorney, title company, or legal document service. The deed must include the correct legal description of the property.
2. Gather required identification: The person signing (the grantor) must bring a valid, current government-issued photo ID.
3. Appear before the notary: The grantor must appear in person before the notary public.
4. Sign and notarize: The grantor signs the deed, and the notary completes the acknowledgment, applies their seal, and signs.
5. Record the deed: File the notarized deed with the Los Angeles County Recorder's Office. This officially puts the transfer on public record.
6. File tax forms: Submit a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR) with the deed for tax assessment purposes.

Important Considerations

• Only the grantor signs: The person receiving the property (grantee) does not need to sign the deed or be present at the notarization.
• Power of attorney: If the grantor cannot appear in person, a notarized power of attorney may allow someone else to sign on their behalf.
• Tax implications: Property transfers can trigger reassessment of property taxes. Transfers between parents and children or between spouses may qualify for exclusions. Consult a tax professional.
• Title insurance: For sales, the buyer typically obtains title insurance to protect against any undiscovered claims on the property.

Vehicle Title Transfers

While California does not always require notarization for vehicle title transfers, there are situations where it is needed or recommended. A notarized vehicle title provides additional protection against fraud, especially for private party sales.

Cost of Title Transfer Notarization

The notary fee for a title transfer is the standard California rate of $15 per signature. Additional costs include:

• Recording fees: $15 to $50
• Document preparation (if using an attorney or service): $100 to $500
• Transfer tax (varies by city and county): Typically $1.10 per $1,000 of property value in Los Angeles County
• Mobile notary travel fee (if applicable): $25 to $75

For a convenient title transfer notarization, use a mobile notary who will come to your location. Find one through our Los Angeles notary directory.