Land records · Parcel maps · October 5, 2026
What Is a Corrective Deed? Fixing Errors in a Deed
What is a corrective deed? A new deed that fixes a mistake in an earlier recorded deed, such as a misspelled name or a wrong legal description.
What is a corrective deed? It is a deed recorded to fix a mistake in an earlier deed. It restates the original transfer with the error corrected and refers back to the deed it is fixing. Common reasons include a misspelled name, a wrong lot number, a typo in the legal description, or a missing signature or acknowledgment. It does not create a new sale; it makes the public record match what the parties actually intended. This page is general land-records background, not legal advice.
Errors a corrective deed can fix
- Names: a misspelled grantee name, a missing middle initial, or the wrong form of a business name.
- Legal description: a transposed number in a bearing or distance, the wrong lot or block, or an omitted parcel.
- Vesting: the wrong way of holding title, such as “tenants in common” when the buyers meant “joint tenants with right of survivorship.” Some states treat changes like this as a new transfer rather than a correction.
- Execution problems: a missing notary acknowledgment, a missing witness where the state requires one, or an unsigned page.
Who signs it
Usually the original grantor, the person who transferred the property, signs the corrective deed, because it restates their conveyance. If the grantor has died or cannot be found, a corrective deed may not be possible, and a court action or other remedy may be needed. Some states also want the grantee to sign, especially when the correction affects what they received.
Corrective deed vs affidavit of correction
Many states allow a simpler document for minor typos, often called a scrivener’s affidavit or affidavit of correction. It is signed by someone with knowledge of the error, such as the attorney or title agent who prepared the deed, and it is recorded with the original. Larger changes, especially ones that alter what land was conveyed, usually require a corrective deed signed by the grantor. State law sets where the line falls.
What a corrective deed should say
- A title that identifies it as a corrective or correction deed.
- A statement of what was wrong and what the correct information is.
- The recording information of the original deed, such as book and page or instrument number.
- The full corrected legal description, not just the changed line.
- Signatures and acknowledgments that meet state recording requirements.
Many counties do not charge transfer tax on a true correction, but you may need to claim an exemption on the form.
Why the fix matters
A small error can cause big problems later. A wrong lot number can make the deed describe a neighbor’s land, and a misspelled name can break the link between deeds in the chain of title. Title examiners flag these issues, and buyers’ lenders often refuse to close until they are fixed. Correcting the record while everyone involved is available is much easier than trying to do it years later.
Spotting errors in your own deed
Get a copy of your deed and compare it, line by line, with the previous deed and the recorded plat or survey. Our guides to reading a property deed and finding a legal description help with the comparison. Also check that the parcel on the county map in our county GIS map directory matches the lot, block, and acreage the deed describes.
What is a corrective deed FAQ
What is a corrective deed used for?
To fix mistakes in a recorded deed, such as misspelled names, errors in the legal description, or missing acknowledgments.
Who signs a corrective deed?
Usually the original grantor. Some states also require the grantee’s signature for certain corrections.
Is a corrective deed the same as a new sale?
No. It corrects the record of the original transfer and refers back to it, rather than creating a new conveyance.
Can I fix a typo without a corrective deed?
Some states allow an affidavit of correction or scrivener’s affidavit for minor errors. Larger changes usually need a corrective deed.
Do I pay transfer tax on a corrective deed?
Often not, if it is a true correction, but you may need to claim an exemption. Check the county’s requirements.