Definition
Sale Deed
A sale deed is the core legal document that records and effects the transfer of property ownership from seller to buyer, signed and registered before the sub-registrar.
It contains the details of the parties, the property, the price, and the terms of transfer, and on registration with payment of stamp duty it constitutes the legal proof that the buyer now owns the property. An agreement to sell precedes it (recording the intent and terms), but it is the registered sale deed that actually transfers title.
Buyers should ensure the sale deed accurately reflects the agreed terms, the seller's clear title, and that it is properly registered; a power of attorney alone does not transfer ownership. Retaining the registered sale deed and updating mutation records afterward are essential to establish and protect ownership.
Related terms
- Property RegistrationProperty registration is the legal recording of a property transaction with the government sub-registrar, making the transfer of ownership official and legally enforceable.
- Stamp Duty and Registration ChargesStamp duty and registration charges are state government levies paid when buying property — a transaction tax plus a fee for officially recording the transfer.
- Power of AttorneyA power of attorney (POA) is a legal document by which one person authorises another to act on their behalf in financial, property or other matters.
Plain-English explainer from The Dispatch Investors Encyclopedia. General information, not financial advice.