How to Change the Name on a House Title

Changing the name on a house title usually means signing a new deed, having it notarized, and recording it with the county where the home is. The title is your legal ownership of the home. The deed is the document that transfers or updates that ownership, so the deed is what you actually change.

The steps look similar in every state, but forms, fees, and tax rules depend on where the property is. One thing a deed won’t do is change who owes the mortgage. That stays the same until the lender releases a borrower or the loan is refinanced.

How to change the name on a house title

1. Figure out which deed you need

The right deed depends on why the name is changing and which state the home is in. If this is part of a divorce, check your settlement or court order first. It may spell out exactly what the deed needs to say.

You don’t have to start with a paid attorney. Many county courts run self-help centers, and legal aid organizations may help if you qualify based on income. For a divorce, a trust, or anything involving someone else’s ownership share, consider talking with a licensed real estate or family law attorney for guidance specific to your situation.

2. Prepare the new deed

A deed lists the current owner, called the grantor, and the new owner or owners, called the grantee. It also includes the property’s legal description, the official wording that identifies exactly which property is changing hands.

Copy that description word for word from your current deed, and take your time with it. A typo can cloud the title, meaning it leaves a question about who owns the home, and that can cause problems when you sell or refinance later.

If more than one person will be on the title, the deed also says how you’ll share ownership. For example, joint tenancy usually passes one owner’s share to the other at death. That choice matters more than it looks, so ask an attorney or legal aid office helping you before anyone signs.

Then ask your county recorder which forms need to go with the deed.

3. Sign in front of a notary

The owners giving up or changing their interest sign the deed in front of a notary. Bring a photo ID that matches the name you’re signing.

Each state sets its own notary fees. Before you book one, ask your bank or credit union whether it notarizes documents for customers and what it charges.

4. Record the deed with your county

Take or mail the signed deed to the county recorder. Depending on where you live, that office might be called the register of deeds or county clerk. You’ll pay a recording fee, plus any transfer tax your state or county charges.

Recording puts the change in the public record, which protects the new owner if someone later claims an interest in the home.

When you record it, ask when you’ll get the original back. Then keep the recorded copy with your other important papers.

5. Tell your mortgage lender and title insurance company

If there’s a mortgage, let your servicer know about the change. Many mortgages include a due-on-sale clause, which lets the lender demand the full balance if the home is transferred. Federal law bars lenders from using that clause for certain transfers, including to a spouse or children, as part of a divorce, or into a living trust where the borrower stays a beneficiary. If your transfer isn’t one of those, such as adding a partner you’re not married to or a parent, ask your servicer in writing whether it will enforce the clause before you record the deed.

Next, call your title insurance company and ask whether the owner’s policy still covers me after the transfer. While you’re making calls, update your homeowners insurance so every owner on the new deed is covered.

Common reasons for changing a name on a house title

Marriage or divorce

If you changed your last name after getting married, you may not need to record a new deed. The home is still yours under your old name. When you sell or refinance, a title company may ask for your marriage certificate to connect the two names. Adding your spouse as an owner is a separate change, and that one does take a new deed.

In a divorce, the settlement or court order usually says who keeps the home. The spouse giving up ownership typically signs a deed transferring their share to the other.

Signing that deed doesn’t end responsibility for the loan. Taking your name off a home’s title doesn’t take your name off the mortgage, according to the CFPB. You generally stay responsible until the lender releases you or your former spouse refinances. If the settlement doesn’t say when a refinance has to happen, talk with your divorce attorney before you sign.

Adding or removing someone to your title

Adding someone to your title gives them a share of ownership. If that person isn’t your spouse, it may count as a gift. The IRS annual gift exclusion is $19,000 per recipient in 2026. Going above that usually means filing a gift tax return, but filing doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll owe tax.

A gifted share also carries your cost basis, generally what you paid plus major improvements, so they can owe more capital gains tax when they sell than if they’d inherited it. A tax professional can tell you whether you need to file and what the transfer means for capital gains.

Removing someone typically means they sign a deed giving up their share. If they won’t sign, talk with a real estate attorney.

Transferring ownership to a trust

To move your home into a living trust, you sign a deed from yourself to yourself as trustee. The federal due-on-sale protections cover many of these transfers. An estate planning attorney can confirm the trust and deed are set up the way you intend.

Name change for personal reasons

If you changed your name by court order, the process looks a lot like a name change after marriage. Keep a certified copy of the court order with your deed. You’ll use it to connect the two names when you sell, refinance, or apply for a home equity loan.

Read more >> How Much Does Refinancing a Mortgage Cost?

Types of deeds used to change a name on a title

Property tax rules vary too. Depending on your state, certain transfers may not trigger a new property tax assessment. California, for example, excludes transfers between spouses from reassessment. Ask your county assessor whether a transfer changes your property tax bill where you live.

Costs and timelines for changing a name on a house title

Most of what you’ll pay falls into a few categories:

• Recording fees set by your county, often charged per page
• Notary fees set by your state
• Transfer taxes, if your state or county charges them. Ask whether your transfer is exempt.
• Attorney or document preparation fees, if you get help drafting the deed
• Certified copies of a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order

Check your county’s fee schedule for additional costs before you go.

Timing depends on your county’s workload and whether it accepts electronic recording. Before you submit, ask the recorder how long recording takes.

Mistakes to avoid when changing a name on a house title

• Assuming the deed changes the loan. Only the lender can release a borrower from the mortgage.
• Using a quitclaim deed without checking for problems. If you’re taking over ownership from someone else, ask a title company about a title search first.
• Copying the legal description or names incorrectly. Match your current deed exactly.
• Never recording the deed. A signed deed sitting in a drawer may not protect the new owner.
• Skipping the tax questions. Ask about gift tax, transfer tax, property tax reassessment, and capital gains before you sign.

‍Watch for deed fraud. Ask your county recorder whether it offers free alerts when a document is recorded in your name. You can also get a copy of your deed directly from the recorder, so skip mailers that charge high fees for one.

Bottom line

Changing the name on a house title comes down to the right deed, a notary, and a trip to the county recorder. A deed changes who owns the home, but only a refinance or a lender’s release changes who owes on it.

If you’re keeping the home after a divorce, refinancing in your own name usually means a lender looks at your credit alone. It decides whether you qualify, and it also sets a rate you’ll pay on the whole balance for years. If you’re applying soon, ask your lender before opening any new account.

If you have more time, a Kikoff Credit Account reports your on-time payments to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. There’s no credit check to sign up, and plans start at $5 a month.