Definition
The grantor is the party transferring ownership of a property to someone else — in the context of a home sale, that's you, the seller. The grantor is the one who signs the deed, and the name used must match exactly what's on record in the public title history. Estates, trusts and companies can all serve as grantors as well, typically acting through an authorized representative or trustee who signs on their behalf. For homeowners, being named correctly and consistently as the grantor matters more than it might seem, since any mismatch between your legal name and the title record can create delays or require corrective paperwork. If you're selling on behalf of an estate or trust, the title company will guide you through exactly how the grantor line needs to read and who's authorized to sign. Getting this detail right keeps your closing moving smoothly and avoids last-minute scrambling for extra documentation.
Example
When Nathan sold the house he inherited from his father in Columbus, the title company explained that he couldn't simply sign the deed as himself. Because the property had never been formally transferred out of his father's name after probate closed, the grantor listed on the new deed was actually the estate of his father. Nathan signed on the estate's behalf as the court-appointed personal representative, a title the probate court had granted him a few months earlier, rather than signing as an individual owner. He kept a certified copy of his letters of administration on hand in case the title company needed to verify his authority again. The deed language and his signature line both reflected that distinction clearly, which satisfied the title company's requirements and let the sale close without further delay.