In real estate, Delivery refers to the legal act by which a deed is transferred from the grantor to the grantee with the intent to convey ownership of the property. Delivery does not require physical possession of the property itself; rather, it focuses on the grantor’s intent that the deed take effect immediately. This is most commonly accomplished by physically handing the deed to the buyer or the buyer’s agent.
Delivery may also be constructive, such as when the deed is recorded in the public records, which serves as evidence that the grantor intended to transfer title. For a conveyance to be valid, delivery must occur during the grantor’s lifetime and be accepted by the grantee. Without proper delivery, even a properly executed deed does not legally transfer ownership.
