Warranty Deed in District of Columbia

A warranty deed transfers real estate with the seller's promise that the title is good. Before you record it, check your state's signing and recording rules below and your county recorder's formatting rules (margins, preparer and return-address blocks, transfer-tax forms) — recorders reject deeds that miss them.

What District of Columbia law says

Signing and recording a deed	A deed must be executed, acknowledged and certified as the D.C. Code provides and delivered to the grantee; as to creditors and good-faith buyers it takes effect only when delivered to the Recorder of Deeds for recording. Each deed must be accompanied by a recordation tax return in the Mayor's form signed by all parties, and recordation tax is 1.1% of the consideration (or fair market value if consideration is nominal), plus an additional 0.35% except for residential property transferred for less than $400,000; the parties are jointly liable for the tax. Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103
Signing and recording a deed	A deed must be executed, acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer, and certified as D.C. law requires, then delivered to the grantee. To protect against creditors and later buyers, it must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds. Each deed must be filed with a recordation tax return signed by all parties; the recordation tax on a deed is generally 1.1% of the consideration or fair market value, plus an additional 0.35% for most deeds except residential transfers under $400,000. A separate D.C. deed transfer tax also applies to many transfers; some transfers are exempt. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103

Signing and recording a deed

A deed must be executed, acknowledged and certified as the D.C. Code provides and delivered to the grantee; as to creditors and good-faith buyers it takes effect only when delivered to the Recorder of Deeds for recording. Each deed must be accompanied by a recordation tax return in the Mayor's form signed by all parties, and recordation tax is 1.1% of the consideration (or fair market value if consideration is nominal), plus an additional 0.35% except for residential property transferred for less than $400,000; the parties are jointly liable for the tax.

Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103

Signing and recording a deed

A deed must be executed, acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer, and certified as D.C. law requires, then delivered to the grantee. To protect against creditors and later buyers, it must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds. Each deed must be filed with a recordation tax return signed by all parties; the recordation tax on a deed is generally 1.1% of the consideration or fair market value, plus an additional 0.35% for most deeds except residential transfers under $400,000.

A separate D.C. deed transfer tax also applies to many transfers; some transfers are exempt. Re-verified 2026-10-27.

Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103

Fill it in

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Recording requested by and return to: [name and mailing address]

WARRANTY DEED

For [consideration], [grantor name(s)], of [grantor address] ("Grantor"), grants and conveys to [grantee name(s)], of [grantee address] ("Grantee"), [how grantees take title], the following real property in [county] County, [state]:

Legal description: [full legal description copied from the current deed]

Commonly known as: [street address] Parcel / tax ID: [parcel number]

Grantor warrants the title to the property, as provided by [state] law, subject only to: [exceptions, e.g. easements and restrictions of record, current taxes].

Signed on [date signed]. Grantor signature(s): ____________________

[Acknowledgment before a notary public, in the form your state requires, and any witness signatures your state requires]

Send tax statements to: [name and address for tax bills]

Warranty Deed for other states · District of Columbia tenant rights

General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.