A warranty deed is a type of deed where the grantor (seller) guarantees that he or she holds clear title to a piece of real estate and has a right to sell it to the grantee (buyer). This is in contrast to a quitclaim deed, where the seller does not guarantee that he or she holds perfect title to a piece of real estate. A general warranty deed protects the grantee against title defects arising at any point in time, extending back to the property's origins.
Please also see the Franklin County Deeds tab of this guide for information about the County Auditor and Recorder's Offices and their role in transfer and recording of real estate.
How to fill out the deed forms from the Franklin County Law Library:
1) Read the entire form carefully. You will get a good idea of what goes in each blank by reading what comes before and after the blank.
2) Enter all the names of the current owners of the property as the grantors on the deed.
3) Enter all the names of the persons you want to be owners of the property as the grantees. Note: if you are adding a name to the deed, you list the current owner and the new owner both as grantees.
4) Attach the legal description of the property from the prior deed. You can obtain a clean copy of the legal description from the Franklin County Recorder's Office. (You cannot just attach the entire prior deed because conveyance standards prohibit multiple grantor/grantee clauses in one deed.)
5) Each grantor must sign the deed in front of a notary public. There is a notary at the Franklin County Auditor's Office. Each deed that transfers real estate must start the process at the Auditor's Office.
6) The deed is filed at the Franklin County Recorder's Office.
373 S. High St., 19th Floor
Columbus, Ohio 43215
614-525-4663
Email is AuditorStinziano@franklincountyohio.gov
Transfer & Conveyance Office Hours
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. - noon and 1 p.m to 4 p.m.
Documents that transfer real estate must start the transfer process with the Franklin County Auditor because DTE 100 or DTE 100EX must be completed. If a homestead exemption is requested, then DTE 101 must also be completed.