Legal Definitions - intended to be recorded

The legal term "intended to be recorded" refers to a legal document, such as a property deed or other instrument affecting ownership, that has been properly signed and delivered but has not yet been officially filed with the relevant government office (like a county recorder's office or land registry). Despite not being publicly recorded, this document is still a valid and essential part of the historical sequence of ownership for a property, known as the "chain of title." It represents a completed transaction that will eventually be made public record.

• Example 1: Recent Property Sale
  Imagine a couple, Sarah and Tom, just bought their first home. They signed all the closing documents, including the deed transferring ownership from the seller to them. The title company handling the closing has possession of this signed deed. While the deed legally transferred ownership at the moment of signing and delivery, the title company still needs to physically submit it to the county recorder's office to be officially recorded in public records. Until that submission happens, this deed is considered "intended to be recorded" because it's a crucial link in the chain of title, proving Sarah and Tom's ownership, even though it's not yet publicly searchable.
• Example 2: Inheritance and Estate Transfer
  After her grandmother passed away, Maria inherited a small cabin. The executor of the estate prepared and signed a deed transferring the cabin's title from the grandmother's estate to Maria. However, due to administrative delays, the executor has not yet filed this deed with the county recorder. Even though the deed isn't officially recorded, it legally establishes Maria as the owner and forms a necessary step in the cabin's ownership history. This deed is "intended to be recorded" because it completes the transfer of ownership, and its eventual recording will make that transfer public.
• Example 3: Business Real Estate Transaction
  A real estate development company, "Urban Sprawl Inc.," purchased a vacant lot from a private landowner. The sale was finalized, and a deed was executed and delivered, transferring the property to Urban Sprawl Inc. However, the company's legal department decided to hold off on recording the deed for a few weeks while they finalized some zoning permits. During this interim period, the deed is "intended to be recorded." It legally conveys ownership to Urban Sprawl Inc., making it a vital part of the property's chain of title, even though it hasn't yet been made a public record at the county office.