The divorce doesn’t change the deed by itself
A divorce judgment says who gets the house. It doesn’t update the county’s records. Until a new deed is recorded, your ex-spouse still shows up as an owner, and that can hold you up when you refinance, sell, or open a home equity line.
What we need from you
The property address, the name the home should be in going forward, and how your judgment or settlement divides it. We pull the current deed and legal description and prepare the deed to match what you tell us.
Who signs
The person giving up their share signs the deed in front of a notary. Usually that’s your ex-spouse. If they won’t sign, talk to your family law attorney about your options.
Taxes
Transfers between spouses, including transfers because of a divorce, are generally excluded from property tax reassessment in California (Revenue and Taxation Code §63). Transfers made under a divorce judgment or settlement are also exempt from documentary transfer tax (§11927). We prepare the exemption statement either way. This is general information, not tax or legal advice.
The mortgage is separate
Taking your ex off the deed doesn’t take them off the loan. Removing them from the mortgage is between you and your lender, usually through a refinance.
How it works
- Buy and tell us who and where. Checkout takes about a minute. We need the property address and how the new title should read.
- We research and prepare. We pull the current deed and legal description, then prepare your document and the county forms.
- Notarize, and we record. Sign in front of a notary (free at our Redding, Roseville, or Sacramento office, or at most banks), upload it, and we e-record it with your county. The recorded copy comes back by email.