Grantor
A grantor is the person or entity that transfers ownership or an interest in real property to another party through a deed or legal document. The grantor is typically the current property owner or seller who is conveying their rights to the grantee.
Example
“The elderly homeowner served as the grantor when he transferred ownership of his lakefront property to his daughter.”
Memory Tip
Grantor ends in '-or' like 'donor' - both give something away to others.
Why It Matters
The grantor must have legal authority to transfer the property and must sign the deed for the transfer to be valid, making their proper identification crucial for a successful transaction.
Common Misconception
People often assume the grantor always owns 100% of the property, but a grantor can only transfer the interest they actually possess.
In Practice
When married couple Jane and Robert Wilson sell their home, both must be listed as grantors on the deed since they jointly own the property, even if only one spouse handles the negotiations.
Etymology
From the Latin 'grantor' meaning 'one who grants,' combining 'grant' with the agent suffix '-or' to indicate the person performing the action of granting.
Common Misspellings
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