It can be tempting to avoid reading the fine print. That can be a mistake in genealogy research as well as in real life.
This 1882 deed from Adams County, Illinois, was recorded in a deed book where the form indicated that the document was a release deed. An awareness of that phrase can be helpful in determining just what was going on in the legal document. The grantor on this deed was releasing the grantee from a legal contract that involved the grantee’s title to the real property described on the deed.
Many times that contract is a mortgage. It was not in this instance. In this case it was an agreement the grantee had to pay his siblings for property which their parents had transferred to the grantee. The grantor was releasing the grantee from that obligation–probably because it had been paid off.
Releases are usually created when a mortgage or note tied to a piece of property has been paid off, thus “releasing” the debtor from their mortgage.
Remember: Genealogy Tip of the Day is not providing legal advice in this post or any post on our site.
No responses yet