You finally close on the purchase of your dream home. A few weeks later, the title company sends the original deed and a recorded copy to you by mail. You immediately notice that your name is spelled incorrectly. What should you do?
A simple mistake in a deed, like spelling errors, is not as big of a deal as you might think. Contact the title company to have them correct the mistake. Depending on the mistake, they can use a scrivener’s affidavit or record a corrective deed to correct the mistake. They should not charge you for this if it was their mistake. If the title company refuses to correct the mistake or is out of business, then you can contact a real estate attorney who can correct the mistake for a fee.
If a mistake is more serious, and it impacts title, such as the wrong grantee is on the deed or the deed has wrong vesting information (e.g., you wanted vesting to be joint tenants with rights of survivorship, but that language is missing), then contact the title company that recorded the deed or a real estate attorney immediately. More serious mistakes need to be corrected immediately since they could have a significant impact on ownership and your heirs.