Code: Deed (Property ownership document)
Description: (Property Deed) is the legal paper that shows who owns a piece of real estate and transfers that ownership from one person or company to another. It must be written, signed, and recorded in the public records to clearly show the new owner of the property.
Practical Meaning: For a NYC homeowner, a deed is the main written legal document that proves who owns the property, shows how each owner’s name is listed, and describes the property (often using a legal description and block and lot), and it is usually checked through ACRIS when reviewing ownership history or recorded transfers; if the deed is wrong or not properly recorded, you can later face problems with selling, refinancing, or clearing up ownership questions.
Where You May See It: You may see the deed as a scanned PDF in ACRIS, listed as a DEED document when you search by address or block and lot, or in your closing papers from when you bought the property.
Why It Matters: Lenders, buyers, and city agencies rely on the deed to confirm who owns the property and what share each owner has, so any error can delay sales, loans, or land use applications. Keeping track of your deed also helps you catch fraud or unauthorized transfers if someone records a deed without your knowledge.
Source: property deed in NYC