Clean. Legal. Weapon-grade adulting.

This is how you officially put your name on the property in LA—no fluff, no nonsense.

1️⃣ Decide 

HOW

 you’re being added

This determines the exact wording on the deed.

Common power moves:

  • Joint Tenants → equal ownership, automatic inheritance
  • Tenants in Common → flexible ownership %, no automatic inheritance
  • Community Property (married) → California tax & inheritance advantages
  • Community Property with Right of Survivorship → max efficiency for spouses

👉 This choice matters for taxes, inheritance, and control.

2️⃣ Prepare a 

Grant Deed

 (California standard)

This is the document that actually transfers ownership.

Must include:

  • Current owner(s)
  • Your full legal name (exact spelling)
  • Vesting language (from Step 1)
  • Legal property description (from current deed)
  • LA County formatting rules (margins, font, paper)

Pro tip: One typo = rejection.

3️⃣ Fill out the 

Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR)

Required in Los Angeles County.

This tells the county:

  • Is this a gift, spouse transfer, refinance, trust move?
  • Does it trigger reassessment?

Get this wrong → tax chaos.

4️⃣ Notarize the deed

All grantors must sign in front of a California notary.

No notary = zero power.

5️⃣ Record it with 

Los Angeles County Recorder

This makes it REAL.

You can:

  • Go in person
  • Mail it
  • Use a title company / real estate attorney

Cost:

  • Recording fee (~$15–$25)
  • Possible Documentary Transfer Tax (often $0 for spouse/trust transfers)

Once recorded → your name is law.

6️⃣ Confirm with 

Los Angeles County Assessor

Check that:

  • Ownership updated
  • Property tax status is correct
  • No accidental reassessment

This protects your future cash flow.

⚠️ CRITICAL WARNINGS (READ THIS)

  • Mortgage present?
    Adding a name can trigger lender issues unless exempt (spouse/trust).
  • Property tax reassessment risk
    Wrong structure = higher taxes forever.
  • Never DIY blindly
    One wrong checkbox can cost five figures.

🧠 GOD-MODE OPTION

If you want maximum protection + flexibility:

  • Transfer into a living trust
  • Then add yourself as trustee/beneficiary

This is how serious operators do it.

TL;DR (BURN THIS INTO MEMORY)

Grant Deed → PCOR → Notary → Record → Verify

That’s it.

That’s ownership.

That’s sovereignty.

If you want, I can:

  • Choose the best vesting structure for your situation
  • Draft exact deed language
  • Tell you when to use a trust vs personal title

Say the word.