Adding a child’s name to a deed gives him or her an ownership interest in your home. As a result, you cannot sell the home or refinance your mortgage without your child’s permission. Technically speaking, your child could even sell his or her share of the property without your consent.

How do I sign my house to my daughter?

A gift deed is a legal document that conveys ownership of a piece of real estate from the parent to the adult child as a gift. As such, no exchange of consideration, or money, occurs between the two parties. This document is legally drafted and must contain the signature of two disinterested witnesses.

Do You Put Your Child on the deed to your home?

Putting your child’s name on the deed to your home is often seen as a simple and inexpensive estate planning technique to ensure your son or daughter receives your home when you pass. But as you will see below, putting your child on your deed can actually cost you much more than you think.

What happens to your house when you make a new deed?

The home will not receive a step-up in basis after your death if you create a joint tenancy with your child by making a new deed during your lifetime. They would have to inherit the home instead. Otherwise, your child would owe capital gains tax based on what the property was worth when you initially bought it.

Can a mother change her mind and deed the property to another child?

If the mother later changes her mind and deeds the property to another child or to someone else (who had no knowledge of the first deed) and that person records the deed, the second deed holder would most likely be the owner of the property, Konopka said.

What happens if you put your child in a joint tenancy deed?

They would have to inherit the home instead. Otherwise, your child would owe capital gains tax based on what the property was worth when you initially bought it. You won’t be able to sell the property, refinance the mortgage, or take out a new mortgage without your child’s consent if you give him partial ownership in a joint tenancy deed.