What must accompany a deed for it to be valid?

For a deed to be valid, it must typically contain valuable or good consideration. Consideration refers to something of value that is exchanged between parties involved in a transaction. In real estate, this usually means the price or value that the buyer agrees to pay the seller for the property. This exchange is essential to validate the deed in the eyes of the law, as it demonstrates that both parties are engaging in a mutual agreement.

While signatures of witnesses, filing with the county, and approval from a notary may be beneficial or required in certain situations to enhance the validity or enforceability of a deed, they are not universally required for all deeds. For instance, not all states mandate the presence of witnesses on a deed, and filing with the county is a step towards public notice but does not affect the deed's validity at the time of signing. Similarly, while a notary can add legitimacy to the document, especially in the context of fraud prevention, notarization is not a prerequisite for the deed to be legally binding.

Thus, the presence of valid consideration is a foundational element that must accompany a deed, solidifying the transaction and ensuring legal enforceability.