How to Transfer Land Titles in Minnesota
Transferring the ownership of land involves placing the deed under the control of the new owner. Deeds to properties are handled differently depending on the state involved. Minnesota was originally a public-domain state where all land in the state was owned, sold or granted by federal and state offices. Land ownership eventually became private in nature and recorded at county recorder's offices. Today, real estate transfers are entirely private and the process of transferring land titles is simple.
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Instructions
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Contact the county recorder's office and make sure the title was properly recorded at the time of the previous sale. When the title is not properly recorded, there is often no other way to determine who legally owns the property. Unrecorded deeds do not carry any legal force. This is also an opportunity to check any other documentation that was recorded along with the title, such as a lien or mortgage. Recording is the only way to make sure that the owner's interest in the property is protected.
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Hire an attorney to create a deed to transfer the title to the new owner. Minnesota recognizes warranty deeds, quitclaim deeds, transfer on death deeds, deeds for trustees, personal representative deeds and deeds for conservators. A warranty deed is the best option because it guarantees legal ownership of the property being transferred. Only a licensed attorney can create a deed, and it is generally best to have the attorney deliver the deed to the new owner. Minnesota uses the Torrens system, so the deed will be transferred upon registration.
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Have the attorney deliver the deed to the recipient, which is called the grantee. The owner, called the grantor, transfers the right of ownership when the deed is registered in the county recorder's office. Make sure the deed is recorded properly to prevent any confusion. Recorded documents take precedence over unrecorded documents. Once the transfer is complete, the new owner has full right to take possession.
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