deed of assignment united states

Deed of Assignment: Everything You Need to Know

A deed of assignment refers to a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of a real estate property from one party to another. 3 min read updated on January 01, 2024

Updated October 8,2020:

A deed of assignment refers to a legal document that records the transfer of ownership of a real estate property from one party to another. It states that a specific piece of property will belong to the assignee and no longer belong to the assignor starting from a specified date. In order to be valid, a deed of assignment must contain certain types of information and meet a number of requirements.

What Is an Assignment?

An assignment is similar to an outright transfer, but it is slightly different. It takes place when one of two parties who have entered into a contract decides to transfer all of his or her rights and obligations to a third party and completely remove himself or herself from the contract.

Also called the assignee, the third party effectively replaces the former contracting party and consequently assumes all of his or her rights and obligations. Unless it is stated in the original contract, both parties to the initial contract are typically required to express approval of an assignment before it can occur. When you sell a piece of property, you are making an assignment of it to the buyer through the paperwork you sign at closing.

What Is a Deed of Assignment?

A deed of assignment refers to a legal document that facilitates the legal transfer of ownership of real estate property. It is an important document that must be securely stored at all times, especially in the case of real estate.

In general, this document can be described as a document that is drafted and signed to promise or guarantee the transfer of ownership of a real estate property on a specified date. In other words, it serves as the evidence of the transfer of ownership of the property, with the stipulation that there is a certain timeframe in which actual ownership will begin.

The deed of assignment is the main document between the seller and buyer that proves ownership in favor of the seller. The party who is transferring his or her rights to the property is known as the “assignor,” while the party who is receiving the rights is called the “assignee.”

A deed of assignment is required in many different situations, the most common of which is the transfer of ownership of a property. For example, a developer of a new house has to sign a deed of assignment with a buyer, stating that the house will belong to him or her on a certain date. Nevertheless, the buyer may want to sell the house to someone else in the future, which will also require the signing of a deed of assignment.

This document is necessary because it serves as a temporary title deed in the event that the actual title deed for the house has not been issued. For every piece of property that will be sold before the issuance of a title deed, a deed of assignment will be required.

Requirements for a Deed of Assignment

In order to be legally enforceable, an absolute sale deed must provide a clear description of the property being transferred, such as its address or other information that distinguishes it from other properties. In addition, it must clearly identify the buyer and seller and state the date when the transfer will become legally effective, the purchase price, and other relevant information.

In today's real estate transactions, contracting parties usually use an ancillary real estate sale contract in an attempt to cram all the required information into a deed. Nonetheless, the information found in the contract must be referenced by the deed.

Information to Include in a Deed of Assignment

Names of parties to the agreement
Addresses of the parties and how they are binding on the parties' successors, friends, and other people who represent them in any capacity
History of the property being transferred, from the time it was first acquired to the time it is about to be sold
Agreed price of the property
Size and description of the property
Promises or covenants the parties will undertake to execute the deed
Signatures of the parties
Section for the Governors Consent or Commissioner of Oaths to sign and verify the agreement

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DEED OF ASSIGNMENT: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

A Deed of Assignment refers to a legal document in which an assignor states his willingness to assign the ownership of his property to the assignee. The Deed of Assignment is required to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it. It is always a subject of debate whether Deed of Assignment is a contract; a Deed of Assignment is actually a contract where the owner (the “assignor”) transfers ownership over certain property to another person (the “assignee”) by way of assignment. As a result of the assignment, the assignee steps into the shoes of the assignor and assumes all the rights and obligations pertaining to the property.

In Nigeria, a Deed of Assignment is one of the legal documents that transfer authentic legal ownership in a property. There are several other documents like a deed of gifts, Assent, etc. However, this article focuses on the deed of assignment.

It is the written proof of ownership that stipulates the kind of rights or interests being transferred to the buyer which is a legal interest.

Read Also: DIFFERENCE BETWEEN TRANSFER OF PROPERTY THROUGH WILLS AND DEED OF GIFT

CONTENTS OF A DEED OF ASSIGNMENT

Content of a Deed of Assignment matters a lot to the transaction and special skill is needed for a hitch-free transaction. The contents of a deed of assignment can be divided into 3 namely; the introductory part, the second (usually the operative part), and the concluding part.

THE INTRODUCTORY PART: This part enumerates the preliminary matters such as the commencement date, parties in the transaction, and recitals. The parties mentioned in the deed must be legal persons which can consist of natural persons and entities with corporate personality, the name, address, and status of the parties must be included. The proper descriptions of the parties are the assignor (seller) and assignee (buyer). The Recitals give the material facts constituting the background to the current transaction in chronological order.
THE SECOND PART (USUALLY THE OPERATIVE PART): This is the part where the interest or title in the property is actually transferred from the assignor to the assignee. It is more like the engine room of the deed of assignment. The operative part usually starts with testatum and it provides for other important clauses such as the consideration (price) of the property, the accepted receipt by the assignor, the description of the property, and the terms and conditions of the transaction.
The testimonium : this shows that all the parties are involved in the execution of the deed.
Execution : this means signing. The capacity of the parties (either individual, corporate bodies, illiterates) is of great essence in the mode of execution. It is important to note that the type of parties involved determines how they will sign. Example 2 directors or a director/secretary will sign if a company is involved. In the same way, if an association, couple, individual, illiterate, family land (omonile), firm, unregistered association, etc. is involved the format of signature would be different.
Attestation : this refers to the witnessing of the execution of the deed by witnesses.

For a Deed of Assignment to be effective, it must include a column for the Governor of the state or a representative of the Government where the property is, to sign/consent to the transaction. By virtue of Sec. 22 of the Land Use Act, and Sec. 10 Land Instrument Registration Law, the Governor must consent to the transaction.

Do you have any further questions? feel free to call Ibejulekkilawyer on 08034869295 or send a mail to [email protected] and we shall respond accordingly.

Disclaimer: The above is for information purposes only and should not be construed as legal advice. Ibejulekkilawyer.com (blog) shall not be liable to any person(s) for any damage or liability arising whatsoever following the reliance of the information contained herein. Consult us or your legal practitioner for legal advice.

Only 22% of poorest Nigerian households have electricity access –World Bank

In the realm of intellectual property, a Deed of Assignment is a formal legal document used to transfer all rights, title, and interest in intellectual property from the assignor (original owner) to the assignee (new owner). This is crucial for the correct transfer of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other IP rights. The deed typically requires specific legal formalities, sometimes notarization, to ensure it is legally enforceable.

To be legally effective a deed of assignment must contain:

Title of the Document : It should clearly be labeled as a "Deed of Assignment" to identify the nature of the document.
Date : The date on which the deed is executed should be clearly mentioned.
Parties Involved : Full names and addresses of both the assignor (the party transferring the rights) and the assignee (the party receiving the rights). This identifies the parties to the agreement.
Recitals : This section provides the background of the transaction. It typically includes details about the ownership of the assignor and the intention behind the assignment.
Definition and Interpretation : Any terms used within the deed that have specific meanings should be clearly defined in this section.
Description of the Property or Rights : A detailed description of the property or rights being assigned. For intellectual property, this would include details like patent numbers, trademark registrations , or descriptions of the copyrighted material.
Terms of Assignment : This should include the extent of the rights being transferred, any conditions or limitations on the assignment, and any obligations the assignor or assignee must fulfill as part of the agreement.
Warranties and Representations : The assignor typically makes certain warranties regarding their ownership of the property and the absence of encumbrances or third-party claims against it.
Governing Law : The deed should specify which jurisdiction's laws govern the interpretation and enforcement of the agreement.
Execution and Witnesses : The deed must be signed by both parties, and depending on jurisdictional requirements, it may also need to be witnessed and possibly notarized.
Schedules or Annexures : If there are detailed lists or descriptions (like a list of patent numbers or property descriptions), these are often attached as schedules to the main body of the deed.

Letter of Assignment (for Trademarks and Patents)

This is a less formal document compared to the Deed of Assignment and is often used to record the assignment of rights or licensing of intellectual property on a temporary or limited basis. While it can outline the terms of the assignment, it may not be sufficient for the full transfer of legal title of IP rights. It's more commonly used in situations like assigning the rights to use a copyrighted work or a trademark license.

For example, company X allows company Y to use their trademark for specific products in a specific country for a specific period.

At the same time, company X can use a Letter of Assignment to transfer a trademark to someone. In this case, it will be similar to the Deed of Assignment.

Intellectual Property Sales Agreement

An IP Sales Agreement is a detailed contract that stipulates the terms and conditions of the sale of intellectual property. It covers aspects such as the specific rights being sold, payment terms, warranties regarding the ownership and validity of the IP, and any limitations or conditions on the use of the IP. This document is essential in transactions involving the sale of IP assets.

However, clients usually prefer to keep this document confidential and prepare special deeds of assignment or letter of assignment for different countries.

IP Transfer Declaration

In the context of intellectual property, a Declaration is often used to assert ownership or the originality of an IP asset. For example, inventors may use declarations in patent applications to declare their invention is original, or authors may use it to assert copyright ownership. It's a formal statement, sometimes required by IP offices or courts.

When assigning a trademark, the Declaration can be a valid document to function as a proof of the transfer. For example, a director of company X declares that the company had sold its Intellectual Property to company Y.

Merger Document

When companies or entities with significant IP assets merge, an IP Merger Document is used. This document outlines how the intellectual property owned by the merging entities will be combined or managed. It includes details about the transfer, integration, or handling of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and any other intellectual property affected by the merger.

In all these cases, the precise drafting of documents is critical to ensure that IP rights are adequately protected and transferred. Legal advice is often necessary to navigate the complexities of intellectual property laws.

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assignments basic law

Assignments: The Basic Law

The assignment of a right or obligation is a common contractual event under the law and the right to assign (or prohibition against assignments) is found in the majority of agreements, leases and business structural documents created in the United States.

As with many terms commonly used, people are familiar with the term but often are not aware or fully aware of what the terms entail. The concept of assignment of rights and obligations is one of those simple concepts with wide ranging ramifications in the contractual and business context and the law imposes severe restrictions on the validity and effect of assignment in many instances. Clear contractual provisions concerning assignments and rights should be in every document and structure created and this article will outline why such drafting is essential for the creation of appropriate and effective contracts and structures.

The reader should first read the article on Limited Liability Entities in the United States and Contracts since the information in those articles will be assumed in this article.

Basic Definitions and Concepts:

An assignment is the transfer of rights held by one party called the “assignor” to another party called the “assignee.” The legal nature of the assignment and the contractual terms of the agreement between the parties determines some additional rights and liabilities that accompany the assignment. The assignment of rights under a contract usually completely transfers the rights to the assignee to receive the benefits accruing under the contract. Ordinarily, the term assignment is limited to the transfer of rights that are intangible, like contractual rights and rights connected with property. Merchants Service Co. v. Small Claims Court , 35 Cal. 2d 109, 113-114 (Cal. 1950).

An assignment will generally be permitted under the law unless there is an express prohibition against assignment in the underlying contract or lease. Where assignments are permitted, the assignor need not consult the other party to the contract but may merely assign the rights at that time. However, an assignment cannot have any adverse effect on the duties of the other party to the contract, nor can it diminish the chance of the other party receiving complete performance. The assignor normally remains liable unless there is an agreement to the contrary by the other party to the contract.

The effect of a valid assignment is to remove privity between the assignor and the obligor and create privity between the obligor and the assignee. Privity is usually defined as a direct and immediate contractual relationship. See Merchants case above.

Further, for the assignment to be effective in most jurisdictions, it must occur in the present. One does not normally assign a future right; the assignment vests immediate rights and obligations.

No specific language is required to create an assignment so long as the assignor makes clear his/her intent to assign identified contractual rights to the assignee. Since expensive litigation can erupt from ambiguous or vague language, obtaining the correct verbiage is vital. An agreement must manifest the intent to transfer rights and can either be oral or in writing and the rights assigned must be certain.

Note that an assignment of an interest is the transfer of some identifiable property, claim, or right from the assignor to the assignee. The assignment operates to transfer to the assignee all of the rights, title, or interest of the assignor in the thing assigned. A transfer of all rights, title, and interests conveys everything that the assignor owned in the thing assigned and the assignee stands in the shoes of the assignor. Knott v. McDonald’s Corp ., 985 F. Supp. 1222 (N.D. Cal. 1997)

The parties must intend to effectuate an assignment at the time of the transfer, although no particular language or procedure is necessary. As long ago as the case of National Reserve Co. v. Metropolitan Trust Co ., 17 Cal. 2d 827 (Cal. 1941), the court held that in determining what rights or interests pass under an assignment, the intention of the parties as manifested in the instrument is controlling.

The intent of the parties to an assignment is a question of fact to be derived not only from the instrument executed by the parties but also from the surrounding circumstances. When there is no writing to evidence the intention to transfer some identifiable property, claim, or right, it is necessary to scrutinize the surrounding circumstances and parties’ acts to ascertain their intentions. Strosberg v. Brauvin Realty Servs., 295 Ill. App. 3d 17 (Ill. App. Ct. 1st Dist. 1998)

The general rule applicable to assignments of choses in action is that an assignment, unless there is a contract to the contrary, carries with it all securities held by the assignor as collateral to the claim and all rights incidental thereto and vests in the assignee the equitable title to such collateral securities and incidental rights. An unqualified assignment of a contract or chose in action, however, with no indication of the intent of the parties, vests in the assignee the assigned contract or chose and all rights and remedies incidental thereto.

More examples: In Strosberg v. Brauvin Realty Servs ., 295 Ill. App. 3d 17 (Ill. App. Ct. 1st Dist. 1998), the court held that the assignee of a party to a subordination agreement is entitled to the benefits and is subject to the burdens of the agreement. In Florida E. C. R. Co. v. Eno , 99 Fla. 887 (Fla. 1930), the court held that the mere assignment of all sums due in and of itself creates no different or other liability of the owner to the assignee than that which existed from the owner to the assignor.

And note that even though an assignment vests in the assignee all rights, remedies, and contingent benefits which are incidental to the thing assigned, those which are personal to the assignor and for his sole benefit are not assigned. Rasp v. Hidden Valley Lake, Inc ., 519 N.E.2d 153, 158 (Ind. Ct. App. 1988). Thus, if the underlying agreement provides that a service can only be provided to X, X cannot assign that right to Y.

Novation Compared to Assignment:

Although the difference between a novation and an assignment may appear narrow, it is an essential one. “Novation is a act whereby one party transfers all its obligations and benefits under a contract to a third party.” In a novation, a third party successfully substitutes the original party as a party to the contract. “When a contract is novated, the other contracting party must be left in the same position he was in prior to the novation being made.”

A sublease is the transfer when a tenant retains some right of reentry onto the leased premises. However, if the tenant transfers the entire leasehold estate, retaining no right of reentry or other reversionary interest, then the transfer is an assignment. The assignor is normally also removed from liability to the landlord only if the landlord consents or allowed that right in the lease. In a sublease, the original tenant is not released from the obligations of the original lease.

Equitable Assignments:

An equitable assignment is one in which one has a future interest and is not valid at law but valid in a court of equity. In National Bank of Republic v. United Sec. Life Ins. & Trust Co. , 17 App. D.C. 112 (D.C. Cir. 1900), the court held that to constitute an equitable assignment of a chose in action, the following has to occur generally: anything said written or done, in pursuance of an agreement and for valuable consideration, or in consideration of an antecedent debt, to place a chose in action or fund out of the control of the owner, and appropriate it to or in favor of another person, amounts to an equitable assignment. Thus, an agreement, between a debtor and a creditor, that the debt shall be paid out of a specific fund going to the debtor may operate as an equitable assignment.

In Egyptian Navigation Co. v. Baker Invs. Corp. , 2008 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 30804 (S.D.N.Y. Apr. 14, 2008), the court stated that an equitable assignment occurs under English law when an assignor, with an intent to transfer his/her right to a chose in action, informs the assignee about the right so transferred.

An executory agreement or a declaration of trust are also equitable assignments if unenforceable as assignments by a court of law but enforceable by a court of equity exercising sound discretion according to the circumstances of the case. Since California combines courts of equity and courts of law, the same court would hear arguments as to whether an equitable assignment had occurred. Quite often, such relief is granted to avoid fraud or unjust enrichment.

Note that obtaining an assignment through fraudulent means invalidates the assignment. Fraud destroys the validity of everything into which it enters. It vitiates the most solemn contracts, documents, and even judgments. Walker v. Rich , 79 Cal. App. 139 (Cal. App. 1926). If an assignment is made with the fraudulent intent to delay, hinder, and defraud creditors, then it is void as fraudulent in fact. See our article on Transfers to Defraud Creditors .

But note that the motives that prompted an assignor to make the transfer will be considered as immaterial and will constitute no defense to an action by the assignee, if an assignment is considered as valid in all other respects.

Enforceability of Assignments:

Whether a right under a contract is capable of being transferred is determined by the law of the place where the contract was entered into. The validity and effect of an assignment is determined by the law of the place of assignment. The validity of an assignment of a contractual right is governed by the law of the state with the most significant relationship to the assignment and the parties.

In some jurisdictions, the traditional conflict of laws rules governing assignments has been rejected and the law of the place having the most significant contacts with the assignment applies. In Downs v. American Mut. Liability Ins. Co ., 14 N.Y.2d 266 (N.Y. 1964), a wife and her husband separated and the wife obtained a judgment of separation from the husband in New York. The judgment required the husband to pay a certain yearly sum to the wife. The husband assigned 50 percent of his future salary, wages, and earnings to the wife. The agreement authorized the employer to make such payments to the wife.

After the husband moved from New York, the wife learned that he was employed by an employer in Massachusetts. She sent the proper notice and demanded payment under the agreement. The employer refused and the wife brought an action for enforcement. The court observed that Massachusetts did not prohibit assignment of the husband’s wages. Moreover, Massachusetts law was not controlling because New York had the most significant relationship with the assignment. Therefore, the court ruled in favor of the wife.

Therefore, the validity of an assignment is determined by looking to the law of the forum with the most significant relationship to the assignment itself. To determine the applicable law of assignments, the court must look to the law of the state which is most significantly related to the principal issue before it.

Assignment of Contractual Rights:

Generally, the law allows the assignment of a contractual right unless the substitution of rights would materially change the duty of the obligor, materially increase the burden or risk imposed on the obligor by the contract, materially impair the chance of obtaining return performance, or materially reduce the value of the performance to the obligor. Restat 2d of Contracts, § 317(2)(a). This presumes that the underlying agreement is silent on the right to assign.

If the contract specifically precludes assignment, the contractual right is not assignable. Whether a contract is assignable is a matter of contractual intent and one must look to the language used by the parties to discern that intent.

In the absence of an express provision to the contrary, the rights and duties under a bilateral executory contract that does not involve personal skill, trust, or confidence may be assigned without the consent of the other party. But note that an assignment is invalid if it would materially alter the other party’s duties and responsibilities. Once an assignment is effective, the assignee stands in the shoes of the assignor and assumes all of assignor’s rights. Hence, after a valid assignment, the assignor’s right to performance is extinguished, transferred to assignee, and the assignee possesses the same rights, benefits, and remedies assignor once possessed. Robert Lamb Hart Planners & Architects v. Evergreen, Ltd. , 787 F. Supp. 753 (S.D. Ohio 1992).

On the other hand, an assignee’s right against the obligor is subject to “all of the limitations of the assignor’s right, all defenses thereto, and all set-offs and counterclaims which would have been available against the assignor had there been no assignment, provided that these defenses and set-offs are based on facts existing at the time of the assignment.” See Robert Lamb , case, above.

The power of the contract to restrict assignment is broad. Usually, contractual provisions that restrict assignment of the contract without the consent of the obligor are valid and enforceable, even when there is statutory authorization for the assignment. The restriction of the power to assign is often ineffective unless the restriction is expressly and precisely stated. Anti-assignment clauses are effective only if they contain clear, unambiguous language of prohibition. Anti-assignment clauses protect only the obligor and do not affect the transaction between the assignee and assignor.

Usually, a prohibition against the assignment of a contract does not prevent an assignment of the right to receive payments due, unless circumstances indicate the contrary. Moreover, the contracting parties cannot, by a mere non-assignment provision, prevent the effectual alienation of the right to money which becomes due under the contract.

A contract provision prohibiting or restricting an assignment may be waived, or a party may so act as to be estopped from objecting to the assignment, such as by effectively ratifying the assignment. The power to void an assignment made in violation of an anti-assignment clause may be waived either before or after the assignment. See our article on Contracts.

Noncompete Clauses and Assignments:

Of critical import to most buyers of businesses is the ability to ensure that key employees of the business being purchased cannot start a competing company. Some states strictly limit such clauses, some do allow them. California does restrict noncompete clauses, only allowing them under certain circumstances. A common question in those states that do allow them is whether such rights can be assigned to a new party, such as the buyer of the buyer.

A covenant not to compete, also called a non-competitive clause, is a formal agreement prohibiting one party from performing similar work or business within a designated area for a specified amount of time. This type of clause is generally included in contracts between employer and employee and contracts between buyer and seller of a business.

Many workers sign a covenant not to compete as part of the paperwork required for employment. It may be a separate document similar to a non-disclosure agreement, or buried within a number of other clauses in a contract. A covenant not to compete is generally legal and enforceable, although there are some exceptions and restrictions.

Whenever a company recruits skilled employees, it invests a significant amount of time and training. For example, it often takes years before a research chemist or a design engineer develops a workable knowledge of a company’s product line, including trade secrets and highly sensitive information. Once an employee gains this knowledge and experience, however, all sorts of things can happen. The employee could work for the company until retirement, accept a better offer from a competing company or start up his or her own business.

A covenant not to compete may cover a number of potential issues between employers and former employees. Many companies spend years developing a local base of customers or clients. It is important that this customer base not fall into the hands of local competitors. When an employee signs a covenant not to compete, he or she usually agrees not to use insider knowledge of the company’s customer base to disadvantage the company. The covenant not to compete often defines a broad geographical area considered off-limits to former employees, possibly tens or hundreds of miles.

Another area of concern covered by a covenant not to compete is a potential ‘brain drain’. Some high-level former employees may seek to recruit others from the same company to create new competition. Retention of employees, especially those with unique skills or proprietary knowledge, is vital for most companies, so a covenant not to compete may spell out definite restrictions on the hiring or recruiting of employees.

A covenant not to compete may also define a specific amount of time before a former employee can seek employment in a similar field. Many companies offer a substantial severance package to make sure former employees are financially solvent until the terms of the covenant not to compete have been met.

Because the use of a covenant not to compete can be controversial, a handful of states, including California, have largely banned this type of contractual language. The legal enforcement of these agreements falls on individual states, and many have sided with the employee during arbitration or litigation. A covenant not to compete must be reasonable and specific, with defined time periods and coverage areas. If the agreement gives the company too much power over former employees or is ambiguous, state courts may declare it to be overbroad and therefore unenforceable. In such case, the employee would be free to pursue any employment opportunity, including working for a direct competitor or starting up a new company of his or her own.

It has been held that an employee’s covenant not to compete is assignable where one business is transferred to another, that a merger does not constitute an assignment of a covenant not to compete, and that a covenant not to compete is enforceable by a successor to the employer where the assignment does not create an added burden of employment or other disadvantage to the employee. However, in some states such as Hawaii, it has also been held that a covenant not to compete is not assignable and under various statutes for various reasons that such covenants are not enforceable against an employee by a successor to the employer. Hawaii v. Gannett Pac. Corp. , 99 F. Supp. 2d 1241 (D. Haw. 1999)

It is vital to obtain the relevant law of the applicable state before drafting or attempting to enforce assignment rights in this particular area.

Conclusion:

In the current business world of fast changing structures, agreements, employees and projects, the ability to assign rights and obligations is essential to allow flexibility and adjustment to new situations. Conversely, the ability to hold a contracting party into the deal may be essential for the future of a party. Thus, the law of assignments and the restriction on same is a critical aspect of every agreement and every structure. This basic provision is often glanced at by the contracting parties, or scribbled into the deal at the last minute but can easily become the most vital part of the transaction.

As an example, one client of ours came into the office outraged that his co venturer on a sizable exporting agreement, who had excellent connections in Brazil, had elected to pursue another venture instead and assigned the agreement to a party unknown to our client and without the business contacts our client considered vital. When we examined the handwritten agreement our client had drafted in a restaurant in Sao Paolo, we discovered there was no restriction on assignment whatsoever…our client had not even considered that right when drafting the agreement after a full day of work.

One choses who one does business with carefully…to ensure that one’s choice remains the party on the other side of the contract, one must master the ability to negotiate proper assignment provisions.

Founded in 1939, our law firm combines the ability to represent clients in domestic or international matters with the personal interaction with clients that is traditional to a long established law firm.

What Is the Difference Between the Deed of Absolute Sale and the Deed of Assignment?

Deeds are generally used to prove a transfer of real estate.

Jupiterimages/Comstock/Getty Images

1. Certificate of Title Vs. Deed
2. Assignment of Deed of Trust Vs. Deed or Grant Deed
3. What Is a Quitclaim Assignment?

The deed of absolute sale, which is used in most real estate purchases, transfers property without any conditions beyond satisfaction of the purchase price. A deed of assignment, by contrast, can be used any time one party wants to transfer contractual rights to another. Deeds of assignment are common between mortgage lenders.

The difference between a deed of sale and a deed of assignment is that the deed of sale is used once and has no conditions other than the purchase price of the property, while the deed of assignment can be used anytime to transfer contractual rights from one party to another.

Absolute Sale Deeds

The deed of absolute sale is used in many real estate sales. A deed is a document that states that one party is transferring his real estate property rights to another. The deed proves the transfer, but, if properly recorded with the county recorder, it serves to give other prospective purchasers notice that all of the seller's rights in the property have now passed on to another party. An "absolute sale" deed is defined by having no conditions attached to the sale except the buyer's payment of the purchase price. When the seller signs and delivers the absolute sale deed, this is generally recognized by law as the moment of sale.

Deed Requirements

To be valid, an absolute sale deed must clearly describe the property being transferred, either by address or other distinguishing information. The deed must also clearly identify the seller and purchaser, the date on which the transfer becomes legally effective and pertinent information such as the purchase price. In modern real estate transactions, the parties often get around trying to cram all of this information into the deed by having an ancillary real estate sales contract. However, the deed must reference the information contained in the contract.

Understanding Assignment

Assignment is slightly different from an outright transfer. An assignment occurs when two parties are in a contractual relationship and one party wants to give all of his contractual rights to a third party and entirely remove himself from the contract. The new party, known as the "assignee," effectively replaces the old contracting party, taking on not only his rights under the contract but his obligations as well. Typically, unless the original contract states otherwise, both parties to the original contract must approve an assignment before it can take place.

Deed of Assignment

The deed of assignment is the document used to transfer the contracting party's rights. The parties may also choose to accomplish assignment via an assignment contract. In real estate, the deed of assignment often shows up in mortgage transactions. Mortgage lenders hold certain rights to property, notably the right to foreclose if the borrower fails to make payments. Lenders frequently wish to sell or purchase rights in a mortgaged property. The deed of assignment transfers or "assigns" the seller's rights in the property to another lender.

U.S. Legal: Absolute Sale Law and Legal Definition
U.S. Legal: Assignments
NOLO: What's the Difference Between a Mortgage Assignment and an Endorsement (Transfer) of the Note?
The Free Dictionary: Absolute Deed
Reference: What Is a Deed of Assignment?

Erika Johansen is a lifelong writer with a Master of Fine Arts from the Iowa Writers' Workshop and editorial experience in scholastic publication. She has written articles for various websites.

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Drafting a Deed of Assignment

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Introduction

A Deed of Assignment is a vital legal document used to transfer rights, interests or assets between parties. It is regularly used in business transactions, and often regarding real estate or intellectual property. A well-crafted deed of assignment can protect both sides from potential legal disputes, ensuring that everyone involved understands their obligations and responsibilities.

The Genie AI team has seen many instances where having a valid deed of assignment can make all the difference - without it businesses could be exposed to considerable risk. That’s why we offer free templates and step-by-step guides to help those wishing to draft their own deed.

When creating a Deed of Assignment it is important to take the specific circumstances into account - any changes or additions should be accurately documented and agreed by all involved parties beforehand. Furthermore, it is essential that the terms are clearly written out in an unambiguous way so every party knows exactly what they have signed up for. Beyond protecting both sides’ interests, this type of agreement can also be used for copyright assignments, leases, debt transfers and trusts.

Before signing on the dotted line it’s also critical that executing such documentation is done properly - all parties must sign in the presence of a witness who will also affix their signature and date the document accordingly. Once this process has been completed filings must then be made with any relevant government authorities whenever necessary (especially in cases involving real estate or intellectual property transfers).

In summary, drafting a Deed of Assignment not only safeguards everyone’s best interests but also provides additional benefits depending on its use case - reading through our step-by-step guidance below should provide you with more information on how to access our template library today and start benefitting from its advantages without needing to sign up for an account with Genie AI first!

Definitions (feel free to skip)

Legal Binding: When a legally binding document is used, it means that all parties involved are legally obligated to follow the terms and conditions set forth in the document.

Assignor: The assignor is the person who is transferring rights, interests or assets to someone else.

Assignee: The assignee is the person who is receiving the rights, interests or assets from the assignor.

Witness: A witness is an independent third-party who is present when a document is signed, in order to ensure that the process is completed in a secure and legally binding manner.

Stamp: A stamp is an official seal or mark that is used to verify and authenticate a document.

Tax: A tax is a sum of money that is paid to a government or public authority.

Duty: Duty is an obligation or responsibility assigned to someone.

Defining the Deed of Assignment

What is a deed of assignment and what is its purpose, parties involved, who needs to be involved in the making of a deed of assignment, drafting the deed, determine what kind of deed of assignment needs to be drafted, consider the subject matter to be assigned in the deed, research the legal requirements for the kind of deed to be drafted, draft the deed of assignment in accordance with the legal requirements, executing the deed, check that the parties to the deed are correctly identified, confirm that the deed is correctly signed and dated by all parties, confirm that the deed is witnessed by an independent third party, have the deed of assignment properly executed by all parties, registration, determine whether the deed of assignment needs to be registered, if registration is necessary, confirm the registration procedures, take necessary steps to register the deed of assignment, considerations, consider any applicable tax or stamp duty implications of the deed of assignment, consider any restrictions or limitations on the rights being assigned, consider whether the deed of assignment needs to be registered in any public records, common mistakes, not accurately identifying all of the parties to the deed, not having the deed properly executed by all parties, not having the deed witnessed by an independent third party, not considering any applicable tax or stamp duty implications, not considering any applicable restrictions or limitations on the rights being assigned, record keeping, ensure that the original deed of assignment is securely stored, create a digital copy of the deed and store it in a secure manner, review the deed of assignment to ensure accuracy, confirm that all steps have been completed correctly, seek advice from legal professionals if necessary, get started.

Establish the parties involved in the Deed of Assignment
Identify the property or service being assigned
Specify the terms of the assignment
Ensure the Deed of Assignment is properly witnessed
Check that all signatures are valid

When you have completed the steps above, you will have successfully defined the Deed of Assignment and can proceed to the next step.

A deed of assignment is a legal document that is used to transfer the rights and responsibilities of one party (the assignor) to another party (the assignee)
It is used to transfer contractual rights and obligations between parties
It should include information such as the names of the parties, the date of the assignment, and the description of the rights transferred
You will know that you have completed this step when you have an understanding of what a deed of assignment is and why it is used.
Identify the party transferring their rights (the assignor) and the party receiving the rights (the assignee)
Draft the deed in the name of both parties, including full names and contact details
Ensure the deed is signed by both the assignor and assignee
Once the deed is signed, the parties should exchange copies of the document

Once the assignor and assignee have been identified and the deed has been drafted and signed, you can check this step off your list and move on to the next step.

Identify the parties involved in the Deed of Assignment. This would typically include the assignor (the party transferring their rights or interest) and the assignee (the party receiving the rights or interest).
Ensure that all parties involved have the legal capacity to enter into a contract.
When all parties have been identified and their legal capacity has been verified, you can check this step off your list and move on to drafting the Deed.
Read the applicable laws in your jurisdiction to determine the required language and structure of the Deed of Assignment
Gather the necessary information on the parties, the asset being assigned, and other relevant details
Draft the Deed of Assignment, taking into account all the necessary details
Make sure the language is clear and unambiguous
Have the Deed of Assignment reviewed by a legal professional
When the Deed of Assignment has been drafted and reviewed, you can move on to the next step.
Identify the type of assignment that needs to be drafted and the legal requirements that need to be satisfied
Consider the purpose of the Deed and the rights and obligations of the parties to the Deed
Determine if the Deed is for an absolute or conditional assignment
Consider if the Deed should be an express or implied assignment
Determine if the Deed needs to be in writing or if it can be oral
Check the applicable laws in your jurisdiction to ensure that you are drafting a valid Deed
Check if there are any additional requirements that need to be included in the Deed

When you can check this off your list: Once you have identified the type of assignment and the relevant legal requirements, you can move on to considering the subject matter to be assigned in the Deed.

Identify the subject matter of the Deed of Assignment, such as a patent, trademark, copyright, or other intellectual property
Assess the value of the subject matter and any associated liabilities
Understand the relationship between the assignor and assignee
Have all necessary documents, such as a purchase agreement, to provide more detail about the assignment

Once you have identified the subject matter of the Deed of Assignment, assessed its value, understand the relationship between the assignor and assignee, and gathered any additional documents, you can move onto the next step of researching the legal requirements for the kind of Deed to be drafted.

Research the relevant legislation, case law, and other materials related to the Deed of Assignment to be drafted
Consult with a lawyer familiar with the relevant law to understand the requirements
Take detailed notes on the legal requirements that must be adhered to in the Deed of Assignment
Once you have all the necessary information, double-check that you understand the requirements before moving on to the next step.
Prepare the text of the Deed, ensuring that all relevant information regarding the parties, the subject matter, and the consideration is included
Check to make sure the language conforms with relevant laws and regulations
Have the Deed reviewed by a solicitor to ensure that it complies with all legal requirements
Once the Deed has been approved by a solicitor, have the parties sign the document
Once the Deed has been signed by both parties, make multiple copies and ensure each party has a copy
This step is complete once the Deed has been signed and each party has a copy of the document.
Ensure both parties sign the Deed of Assignment in the presence of two witnesses who are over the age of 18 and not parties to the Deed
Have both parties sign the deed in the presence of two witnesses and have the witnesses sign the deed to attest to witnessing the signature of the parties
Check that the parties have signed the Deed in the presence of the witnesses by noting the signatures and the dates of signature in the execution clause of the Deed
Once the Deed has been executed, have the parties date and keep a copy of the Deed in a secure place
You will know that you have completed this step when the Deed has been properly executed by the parties in the presence of two witnesses.
Identify all parties to the Deed and verify that their details are correct.
Ensure that all parties to the Deed are identified in the document and that the details of each party are accurate and up-to-date.
Check that the names, addresses and contact details of each party are correct.
Once you have verified that the parties and their details are correctly identified, you can move on to the next step.
Check that all parties have signed the Deed in the correct place, and that the date of signature is correct
Ensure that each party has signed the Deed in the presence of an independent witness
Check that all parties have signed the Deed with their full name and title, if applicable
Confirm that the date of signature is correct and that all parties have signed on the same date
Once you have verified that all parties have correctly signed and dated the Deed, you can proceed to the next step.
Ensure that the Deed is witnessed by an independent third party who is not a party to the Deed.
Ask the third party to sign the Deed and provide their name, address, occupation and date of signing.
Check that the third party has signed and dated the Deed.
Once the above is complete, you can check this step off your list and move on to the next step.
Obtain signatures from all parties on the deed of assignment, ensuring that each party signs in the presence of a witness
Have an independent third party witness each party’s signature
Ensure that all parties have a valid form of identification, such as a driver’s license or passport, available for inspection by the witness
Ensure that all parties sign the deed of assignment in the presence of the witness
Obtain the witness’ signature, confirming that all parties signed in the presence of the witness
You will know this step is completed once all parties have signed the deed of assignment and the witness has signed confirming they were present during the signing.
Obtain a copy of the executed Deed of Assignment from all parties
Contact the relevant state or territory office to determine whether the Deed of Assignment needs to be registered
If registration is required, complete the necessary forms, pay the registration fee, and submit the required documents
Once the Deed of Assignment is registered, the registrar will issue a certificate of registration
Check off this step when you have received and reviewed the certificate of registration.
Research the applicable laws and regulations in the relevant jurisdiction to decide if the Deed of Assignment needs to be registered
Consult a legal professional if unsure
When you have the answer, you can move on to the next step.
Confirm what type of Deed of Assignment requires registration with the relevant government agency or registry.
Research the registration procedures and the requirements you must meet in order to register the Deed of Assignment.
Obtain any fees or additional documents that are necessary to complete the registration process.
Ensure that all parties to the Deed of Assignment understand the registration process and the requirements for completing it.

You can check off this step once you have researched and confirmed the registration procedures for the Deed of Assignment.

Gather the necessary documents for registration, such as the Deed of Assignment, supporting documents, and the applicable fee
Visit the registration office to register the Deed of Assignment
Submit the necessary documents to the registration office
Pay the applicable fee
Obtain a copy of the registered Deed of Assignment
Upon completion of the above steps, you can check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Review and understand the nature of the rights and obligations being assigned
Determine if there are any restrictions or limitations in the assignment
Assess if any approvals are needed from third parties before the assignment is valid
Confirm that the assignor has the right to assign the interest being transferred
Check to see if the assignee has the necessary capacity to accept the assignment
Analyze if the assignment is subject to any applicable laws or regulations
Determine if any additional documentation is needed to support the assignment
Once you have considered all of the above, you can proceed with drafting the Deed of Assignment.
Check with your local taxation authority or a qualified tax professional to see if the Deed of Assignment is subject to any taxes or stamp duty.
Ensure that the Deed of Assignment includes any required taxes or stamp duty payments.
Check to see if the tax or stamp duty implications vary by jurisdiction.
Once you’ve considered the tax or stamp duty implications, you can move on to the next step.
Identify any restrictions or limitations that could affect the transfer of rights in the Deed of Assignment
Consider whether there are any legal restrictions that must be observed in the transfer of the rights being assigned
Research any relevant industry standards or regulations to ensure that the restrictions or limitations on the rights being assigned are compliant
Ensure that the Deed of Assignment clearly outlines the restrictions or limitations of the rights being assigned
When all restrictions or limitations on the rights being assigned are taken into consideration, checked for compliance and outlined in the Deed of Assignment, this step is complete.
Consider whether the Deed of Assignment needs to be registered with any government or public agencies.
Determine if any registration is required or optional.
Research the relevant regulations and laws to ensure that the assignments are properly recorded.
Check any local requirements or restrictions.
Once you have determined that the Deed of Assignment does or does not need to be registered, you can move on to the next step in the process.

• Read over the Deed of Assignment twice to make sure you’re accurately identifying all of the parties to the Deed. Make sure you include the full names and addresses of the assignor and assignee, as well as any other relevant parties. • Check that the legal description of the subject property is accurate. • Ensure that the consideration (the amount being exchanged for the assignment) is stated clearly and accurately. • Make sure that the names of the initial parties to the Deed are also included in the recitals. • Ensure that the recitals and the express terms of the Deed are consistent with one another. • Make sure that the Deed is signed, notarized, and delivered in accordance with state law.

Once you’ve completed the above steps, you can check off this task and move on to the next step in the guide.

Identify the assignor and assignee. The assignor is the party transferring their rights and the assignee is the party receiving the rights.
Check all of the details are correct. This includes the names, addresses and other contact information for both parties.
Draft the deed to ensure that the assignor and assignee are accurately identified.
You can check this off your list and move on to the next step once you have confirmed that the assignor and assignee have been accurately identified in the deed.
Ensure that all parties to the Deed have read, understood and agreed to the terms and conditions of the agreement.
Have all parties affix their signature to the Deed and the accompanying documents.
Check that all the signatures are dated and in the presence of a witness.
When all parties have properly executed the Deed, you can move on to the next step.
Ensure all parties have signed the Deed in the presence of a witness.
The witness must be an independent third party who is not a party to the Deed.
The witness must sign each page of the Deed that contains a party’s signature.
The witness must also include their full name, address and occupation on the Deed.
Once all of the above requirements are met, then you can check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Determine the applicable taxes or stamp duty implications for the Deed of Assignment.
Research any applicable taxes or stamp duty fees for the Deed of Assignment.
Calculate the applicable taxes or stamp duty fees for the Deed of Assignment.
Make sure to include the applicable taxes or stamp duty fees in the Deed of Assignment.

Once you have determined the applicable taxes or stamp duty implications for the Deed of Assignment, and included them in the Deed of Assignment, you can move on to the next step.

Determine the rights that you are assigning and review any applicable laws or regulations to ensure that the assignment of such rights is permitted.
Consider any applicable contractual restrictions or limitations on the rights being assigned, such as any applicable confidentiality obligations or restrictions on the transfer of rights.
Once you have determined that the assignment of the rights is permitted and there are no applicable restrictions or limitations, you can proceed to the next step of recording keeping.
Create a record of the Deed of Assignment, including the date it was executed, by each party
Maintain a copy of the Deed of Assignment in a secure place
Record any additional related documents, such as any security documents, release documents, or other agreements
When all of the above have been done, you can check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Obtain a physical copy of the original Deed of Assignment
Ensure the original Deed is signed by both parties
Keep the original Deed in a safe and secure place, such as a locked filing cabinet or safe
Make sure the document is stored in a location that is accessible to both parties
Ensure that the original Deed is not destroyed or tampered with in any way

You can check this off your list and move on to the next step once the original Deed of Assignment is safely stored in a secure location.

Scan or take a digital photo of the original Deed of Assignment and save it to a secure location.
Ensure that the digital copy is readable and clearly displays all of the information contained in the original document.
Ensure that the digital copy is stored in a secure location, preferably on a cloud-based storage system or other secure server.
Make sure that only authorized personnel have access to the digital copy of the Deed.
When finished, you will have created a digital copy of the Deed and stored it in a secure manner.
Read over the Deed of Assignment to ensure accuracy
Make sure all details are correct, and all parties are named
Verify that all signatures are complete and accurate
Make sure the date of the assignment is correct
Check that the document is formatted and laid out correctly
Once you are satisfied with the accuracy of the Deed of Assignment, you can move on to the next step.
Read through the entire document to make sure all the information is correct
Double check that the names and details of the parties involved are spelled correctly
Ensure that all the dates are accurate, and that any and all parties have signed the deed in the right places
Check that the terms and conditions in the deed are consistent with the agreement between the parties
When you have verified all the details, you can check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Check the Deed of Assignment to ensure that all required elements are present, including accurate information and signatures of all parties.
Verify that any and all attachments to the Deed of Assignment are included and accurate.
Ensure that all dates, signatures, and other pieces of information are accurate and up-to-date.
Once you’ve confirmed that all of the steps have been completed correctly, you can move on to the next step.
Seek professional advice from a lawyer or other legal professional to ensure that the deed of assignment is legally binding and enforceable.
Request that the legal professional checks that all steps have been completed correctly, and that the deed of assignment meets all requirements under local law.
Ask the legal professional to provide you with written advice on any changes or revisions that may be necessary to make the deed of assignment valid and enforceable.
Once the legal professional has confirmed that the deed is legally sound, you can check off this step and proceed with the next one.
Research legal professionals who are able to provide advice and assistance with the drafting of a deed of assignment
Contact the legal professionals to discuss the specific requirements and details of the deed of assignment
Ask the legal professionals if they are able to provide advice and assistance with the deed of assignment
Receive advice from the legal professionals and make changes to the deed of assignment accordingly
Once you are satisfied with the changes to the deed of assignment, you can move on to the next step.

Q: Does a Deed of Assignment need to be signed?

Asked by John on April 23rd 2022. A: Yes, a Deed of Assignment needs to be signed by both the assignor and the assignee in order for it to be legally binding. The signatures should be witnessed and dated, and should be in front of an independent witness who is not related to either party. It is also important to include the relevant clauses and provisions in the deed, as these will set out the rights and obligations of each party.

Q: What is the difference between an assignment and a novation?

Asked by Sarah on July 29th 2022. A: An assignment is a transfer of rights or obligations from one party to another, while a novation is a transfer of rights or obligations from one party to another with the consent of all parties involved. An assignment does not necessarily require the consent of all parties, while a novation always requires the consent of all parties. Additionally, an assignment can transfer rights or obligations without necessarily extinguishing any pre-existing agreements, while a novation extinguishes any pre-existing agreements.

Q: Is a Deed of Assignment legally binding in different jurisdictions?

Asked by Tyler on October 17th 2022. A: Yes, a Deed of Assignment can be legally binding in different jurisdictions, though the exact requirements for validity may differ from jurisdiction to jurisdiction. In general, however, a Deed of Assignment needs to be signed by both parties and witnessed by an independent third party in order for it to be legally binding. Additionally, the deed should include all relevant clauses and provisions that are applicable in each jurisdiction.

Q: Are there any tax implications when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Asked by Emma on January 15th 2022. A: Yes, there are tax implications that need to be taken into account when drafting a Deed of Assignment. Depending on the jurisdiction and specific tax laws, there may be tax implications for both parties if they are transferring rights or obligations under the deed. It is important to seek professional tax advice before entering into any agreement that involves transferring rights or obligations between parties as this could have significant financial implications for all involved.

Q: Do I need legal advice when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Asked by Jacob on June 5th 2022. A: While it is not necessary to seek legal advice when drafting a Deed of Assignment, it is generally recommended in order to ensure that all relevant legal requirements are satisfied and that all involved parties are aware of their rights and obligations under the deed. It is also important to make sure that all language used in the deed is clear and unambiguous so that it can easily be understood by all parties involved.

Q: How can I ensure that my Deed of Assignment is valid?

Asked by Michael on August 28th 2022. A: In order for your Deed of Assignment to be valid, it must meet certain legal requirements which vary between jurisdictions. Generally speaking, your deed should include all relevant clauses and provisions applicable in your jurisdiction as well as signatures from both parties which should be witnessed by an independent third party who is not related to either party involved. Additionally, any language used within the document should be clear and unambiguous so that it can easily be understood by all involved parties.

Q: What information do I need to provide when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Asked by Ashley on November 10th 2022. A: When drafting a Deed of Assignment, you will need to provide information about both parties involved such as their names, addresses, contact details and any other relevant information required under applicable laws in your jurisdiction. Additionally, you will need to include any relevant clauses or provisions applicable in your jurisdiction which will set out the rights and obligations of each party under the deed as well as any other information required for the document to be legally binding.

Q: What are common mistakes made when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Asked by Joshua on February 20th 2022. A: One common mistake made when drafting a Deed of Assignment is failing to include all relevant clauses or provisions applicable in your jurisdiction which set out the rights and obligations of each party involved in the agreement. Additionally, failing to have the document signed by both parties or witnessed by an independent third party can render the document invalid or unenforceable under applicable law in some jurisdictions. Moreover, using ambiguous language within the document can also lead to misunderstandings and disputes further down the line which could be avoided if clear language was used throughout the document instead.

Example dispute

Lawsuit referencing a deed of assignment.

The plaintiff may raise a lawsuit if they have been wronged by the defendant in a way that is outlined in the deed of assignment.
For example, the deed of assignment may outline that the defendant is responsible for paying a certain amount of money to the plaintiff, and the defendant has failed to do so.
The plaintiff may also raise a lawsuit if the defendant has failed to adhere to any other obligations laid out in the deed of assignment.
The plaintiff would need to prove that the defendant has breached the deed of assignment in order to win the lawsuit.
If successful, the plaintiff may be able to obtain a judgment in their favor, which may require the defendant to pay the plaintiff the money they are owed.
In addition, the plaintiff may be able to seek other damages, such as punitive damages, if the breach of the deed of assignment was particularly egregious.
Depending on the severity of the breach, the plaintiff may also be able to seek an injunction to prevent the defendant from continuing to breach the deed of assignment.
Settlement of the dispute may also be possible, wherein the defendant agrees to pay a certain amount of money to the plaintiff, or agrees to adhere to the obligations laid out in the deed of assignment.

Templates available (free to use)

Deed Of Assignment For Rent Deposits Occupation Lease Deed Of Assignment Of Benefit Of Claim For The Freehold Or Extended Lease House Under Section 8 Or Section 14 Deed Of Assignment Of Equitable Interest In Residential Land Deed Of Assignment Of Goodwill And Intellectual Property Rights Transfer Of A General Partnership To An Llp Deed Of Assignment Of Property Sale Benefits [Section 42 Deed Of A

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Assignment of Deed

Table of contents, assignment of deed of trust.

An assignment of deed is used to show the deed of a property changing from one party to another, such as when a sale is made. It is used as the written proof to show who has rightful ownership of the property. When someone is purchasing property and decides to sell it before they have paid it off, an assignment of deed form would be used to transfer the rights and everything associated with the property over to the new owner.

When a debtor transfers real estate to a creditor, the Assignment of Deed is the legal document used to record this transfer. This happens when a lawsuit is filed on a property owner for a default in payment and the court’s rule in favor of the creditor; this is one example of when the deed of assignment would be put in to use. It’s used to show that the property is being transferred from the ownership of the defendant and given to the plaintiff that won the case and awarded the property.

It’s important to understand what these documents mean as they pertain to public property records as well as personal background checks into an individual. This could be exactly the type of information you need to help you gain a better understanding on someone or his or her history. It could also be in your own public background information if someone knows where to look for it.

Public records will always contain the history of who owns real property and the details on that property as it exchanges hands or ownership is passed. Anyone who knows how can access basic information about a deed or its assignments.

When a property owner uses an assignment of deed of trust, they are assigning ownership of the property to someone else and this is a very important document that should be kept in a safe and secure place. There are also public records kept on these types of documents and you should be able to request a copy – sometimes at a fee – should you need one.

The Assignment of Deed will also specify the rights the other person will receive along with the deed. As property transfers ownership like this, a recital is usually included as well which shows how many people and the identities of who has owned the property before. This allows you to see how many times the property has transferred hands over the course of its history.

Now that you know more about this particular property document, you will understand it when you use it. Whether you need it for your property or you are searching the property records of someone else for some reason, this information will be very beneficial to you.

We know that these types of legal matters can be confusing to the average person and that’s why we strive to make it easier to understand by giving you the basics here. Assignment of deed of trust documents do not have to confuse you anymore.

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Deed of Assignment

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A Deed of Assignment is an instrument of transfer which is used in real estate transactions to transfer legal title or the ownership of a land or building from the title holder (called the assignor ) to another called the assignee , usually for a consideration (money or money's worth).

The title transfer is done in writing, signed, sealed and delivered by the parties to the transaction. This is a very important document that should be delivered to the purchaser after the conclusion of the sale of any real property .

Note: This document is different from the Contract of Sale because although it is a vital document in real property sale and purchase transactions, the Contract of Sale alone does not transfer ownership or interest in real estate. On the other hand, a registered Deed of Assignment not only transfers legal interest in real property but also serves as the assignee's root of title . This means that a registered Deed of Assignment is enough proof of ownership of real property .

According to the Land Use Act, all state and federal lands are vested in the governor of each state and the federal government respectively, who hold the lands as trustees for Nigerians. Consequently, a person who acquires ownership of land in Nigeria is granted a certain term of years (usually 99 years) and is not referred to as the owner but the holder of a term of years and can assign the remainder of such term to another under a Deed of Assignment.

Note that if a person gifts another a real property , a Deed of Gift should be executed for this purpose.

How to use this document

The document should outline the names and addresses of the parties, a detailed description of the property being conveyed, the origin of the property, covenants and representations of the assignor.

After completing this document, the parties should sign the document . If either of the parties is an individual , the individual should sign the document and the document must be attested by one witness who will put their name, occupation, address and signature. If either of the parties is a company , the common seal of the company should be affixed on the document and either two directors or one director and one company secretary should sign the document.

After the documents have been properly executed, either of the parties (particularly the assignee) should take steps to register the property . The parties should consult a real property agent or their lawyer to register the property .

The assignor should deliver at least 4 (four) signed copies of this document to the assignee for registration at the requisite lands registry. The assignor can also keep a signed copy of this document for their record .

Applicable law

The Land Use Act 1978 applies to this document. The Property and Conveyancing Law of 1959 , Lagos State Registration of Titles Law 2004 and the Registration of Titles laws of various states are also applicable to this document.

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A guide to help you: How to Acquire Real Property in Nigeria

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What is a Deed of Assignment?

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Who Signs the Deed of Assignment?

What is the difference between transfer and assignment, conclusion: what is a deed of assignment, and how is it useful in real life.

Did you just Google what is a deed of assignment is? Fresher law students and students pursuing a program that has no connection to any legal jargon might mistake it for an action that one deliberately performs to achieve nirvana. Yes, it is 'indeed' an action performed intentionally by a person but made legal. To be precise, it is a document of transferring property ownership. Read forth to learn more about it.

A deed is a signed legal document containing all the legal statutes, laws, and agreement clauses for transferring a property or financial assets from previous owners to a new one. Such a document is required to transfer property, tenancies, mortgages, wills, power of attorney, and a partnership agreement.

Did you know that Australia's different states and territories have distinct legislation that entails specific requirements? To execute a deed in Australia, you need to heed the state laws.

For example, suppose a person is selling their property. In that case, the new buyers and the previous owners will sign a deed that contains a detailed list of assets, liabilities and legal monetary exchange. Both parties sign a deed agreeing to the clauses of ownership transfer, and the previous owner holds no.

things to keep in mind while drafting a sale deed

Let's move on to the processes in such an agreement process. The deed has to be executed before the concerned parties can sign it; it is a legal process under which both parties discuss and agree/disagree to the clauses and conditions in the agreement and formally accept the final document. When a party formally accepts a document, they have bound the terms of the document.

A deed is considered a valid legal document only when registered under the local court law; the deed has to be notarized and delivered to the new owner. The process of signing a deed is the most important, and both parties have to be present while signing, or a pre-informed stand-in can be there.

There are over 10.6 million residences in Australia, total cost estimated at 1.8 trillion Australian dollars. - Australian Bureau of Statistics

In most cases, the original/previous owner signs the deed to transfer ownership. But in a partnership agreement or a mortgage transfer, both parties must sign the deed of agreement. A physical handwritten signature is required, and an e-generated signature is not valid.

Often, a nominee witnesses the exchange of signatures as part of the legal formalities. Generally, the nominees are not required to sign the deed, but it majorly depends on the legal requirement of the state/country. The nominee signing the document must not be related to either of the parties. A family member, an employee or the representative attorney cannot sign the deed.

Lastly, a real-estate deed takes effect when the deed is delivered to the new owner a physical or a constructive delivery, i.e. handing over the house keys or assets. Constructive delivery is not official or legal transfer, but concerned parties often do it by mutual agreement.

Learn how to acknowledge any source of information using the APA 7th style .

Delivering a deed through electronic mediums is also a feasible option, but both parties must hand over a physical copy of the signed document to the coordinator. The legal coordinator monitors the exchange and helps in legal registration and notarisation.

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In the previous two sections, we discussed 'what is a deed of assignment?' and the process of signing, executing and delivering a deed. But, let me elaborate on the differences between transferring and assignment of the deed. Both these might be synonyms, yet in legal terminology, assignment means a complete transfer of property or asset ownership from one person to another. In contrast, transfer means appointing an asset or property to another person to control while the ownership belongs to the original owner.

A deed of agreement is the modernized version of a charter, which helps ownership and transfer rights used in ancient Europe.

A deed of assignment and a memorandum of transfer are two distinct documents for respective purposes. Land ownership can be assigned to a new owner through a deed, and a transfer of assets is done through signing a memorandum of transfer. Meanwhile, a licence is a legal document that doesn't permit infringement; the legal governing bodies decide if the assignment can be revoked or if a transfer is possible.

For example, a business or an insurance policy is transferred to a person when the original owner is unavailable to fulfil their duties due to ailment or sudden demise. The original owner assigns the business assets, or insurance policy returns to a new owner through their will (often after the demise) or legal transfer.

Legal transfers and assignments are among the most common and extensively exchanged legal transactions. People buy/sell properties every day, and businesses seeking to expand sign legal partnership agreements frequently. It is a very basic yet detailed legal document that many students learn about at high school and later develop their knowledge through university academia.

The most common legal implication of a deed you will ever witness is the legal battle for a property that occurs generally. Many of you must've witnessed it, or one might be currently in action within your extended family. When the property owner passes away without defining a will, then the next generation successors of a business or the potential owners of the property can challenge each other in court.

A deed of partnership is a legal agreement between two business partners when establishing a legal business partnership. It states the shared assets and liabilities, profit/loss ratio and the revenue shares to be distributed among both partners. A business deed of agreement is often signed by two collaborating businesses or when a bigger organization takes over a smaller business.

The exchange process dates back to 6000 BC in the Mesopotamian tribes, known as the barter system.

Lastly, the transfer of insurance policy also requires a deed of agreement; it is signed by the assignor (original policyholder) who wants to share the profits of an insurance policy with an assignee (family member or the new policyholder). Such agreements occur due to the sudden demise of the assignor or some specific conditions.

There are other implications of a deed of agreement, and often it is an oral agreement between two parties that they can legalize in the future. The exchange of assets has been in practice since the barter currency system. The ancient humans had fewer resources, so the chances of getting your money swindled were less, but technological advancement has resulted in various ways of getting conned. A legal document is required to legalize an agreement of assignment under the state court and secure both parties' legal rights.

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FREE 17+ Deed of Assignment Samples in PDF | MS Word

A deed is referred to as a legal document that serves as an instrument used regarding the transfer, assignment, or bargain of a property or rights. Deeds need to be signed, sealed, and delivered so that it will be considered valid. Deeds are often associated with property transfers, like transferring the ownership of the title of a property to another.

Deed Assignment Samples Pdf Word

Teacher agreement contract samples, free 26+ investment agreement samples in pdf | ms word | google docs | pages, free 9+ shop rental agreement samples [ commercial, lease, tenancy ].

A deed of assignment is one type of deed that is used not only in legal practices but also in the business industry during sale and transfer transactions. We will be touching on this important legal document in this article analysis . Select deed of assignment samples and templates have been included in this article for your convenience. You may download these sample and templates for free. Useful information like what it is, its uses, its components, and many more are available here. Feel free to check them out below.

Deed of Sale and Assignment Lease Template

Google Docs

Assignment of Deed of Trust Template

Editable PDF

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Deed of Reassignment and Retransfer Template

Editable Deed of Assignment Template

Sample Deed of Assignment Template

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Bank Deed of Assignment Template

bank deed of assignement sample template 1

Size: 11 KB

Sample Company Deed of Assignment Template

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Simple Deed of Assignment Template

Size: 49 KB

Sample Assignment of Intellectual Property Rights (Pro-Assignee)

Size: 21 KB

Printable Deed of Assignment Template

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Deed of Assignment of Shipbuilding Template

Size: 25 KB

What Is a Deed of Assignment?

A deed of assignment is a document that contains the details of a transaction that involves the transfer of ownership of a property from one entity to another. It works just like that of an sample agreement because a deed of assignment involves two parties in it who both need to agree to the terms and conditions of the assignment. The word transfer best determines or best describes what a deed of assignment is.

There will always be two parties involved in a deed of assignment and they are the assignee and the assignor. The the person or party who makes the transfer their rights to another person or party is called the assignor. The person who gets or receives the rights to a property or thing from the assignor is called the assignee. Both parties are important in the completion of a deed of assignment.

The concept of a deed of agreement is very similar to that of a legal agreement or legal contract, where there is a party who creates an offer and another party who accepts the offer. To learn more about deeds and other related topic, you may check out our website view them from there. To name a few examples are quit claim deeds, mortgage deeds , and sample grant deeds form .

How Is a Deed of Assignment Different from That of a Deed of Sale?

A deed of sale is also a sample form of document that transfers one’s rights on a property or thing to another. That is exactly the same as a deed of assignment. They may be used for the same reason, which is to transfer property rights, but there is still a difference between a deed of assignment and a deed of sale, which is evident in the details of each document and how they work. The following is a comparison that will help you understand their differences easily.

A deed of sale is used mainly in real estate business plan to transfer the rights of the real estate holder, which is the seller, to that of the buyer once full payment for the real estate property is made. This transfer involves monetary payment by the buyer to the seller for the said real estate property. In a deed of assignment, the transfer of rights to a property may or may not require the assignee to make a payment for the said property nor does the assignor ask for payment for it.
The buyer and the seller need to comply to the terms and conditions of the sales contract and they must do their share of responsibilities or obligations while the contract is still ongoing and even if the transfer has been completed. This is not the case in a deed of assignment. The transfer of rights is absolute, which means that once the transfer has been completed, the assignor no longer has anything to do with the property rights that they have transferred to another. In other words, they have totally given up all their rights to the said property or thing.
A deed of sale is recognized by the law as the purchase or sale of a property, rather than a transfer of the rights of that property.
A deed of sale may be seen as a takeover of rights while a deed of assignment may be seen as a transfer of responsibilities.

You may also be interested in other related topics, like sample warranty deed forms and general warranty deed samples .

Uses of a Deed of Assignment

What are the uses of a deed of assignment? There are a number of things that a deed of assignment is used for and they are as follows:

A deed of assignment is used as an evidence that a certain transfer transaction has taken place between an assignor and the assignee.
It is a document used to show that the assignor has transferred all of their rights, claims, interests, and ownership of a certain property to the assignee.
It is a proof of the assignor’s promise that they are transferring their rights and ownership to the property to the assignee.
A deed of assignment is not only used to transfer one’s rights to another, but it is also used to transfer the responsibilities or obligations of the assignor to the assignee. These responsibilities or obligations come together with the ownership and rights to the said property.

Real estate businesses and other businesses involved in the sale and purchase of different kinds of properties commonly use a deed of assignment together with other important legal documents, like real estate sales contract , property sales contract , and home sales contract .

What Are the Components of a Deed of Assignment?

There are a lot of components of a deed of assignment and it is important that you know of these components if you are going to study or get involved in one. Below is the list of the components of a deed of assignment that you need to know.

The introduction, which includes the date when the assignment is made and signed, the commencement, the names of both the parties involved, and the recital
The operative part, which includes the testatum or the witnesses, and other clauses like sample receipt clause, the consideration, the word grant, the parcel, the capacity of both the vendor and the covenant for the title, exceptions and reservations, and habendum
Other miscellaneous clauses like the covenant for indemnity, both for assignor and assignee
The testimonies
The schedules
The execution of the deed

Pipeline Company Deed of Assignment Template

pipeline company deed of assignment sample 02

Size: 69 KB

Sample Deed of Assignment Form with Instructions Template

deed of assignment form with instructions 1

Size: 68 KB

Deed of Assignment of Contractor’s Financial Benefits Template

deed of assignment of contractors financial benefits 1

Size: 20 KB

Deed of Assignment of Tenancy Template

Size: 37 KB

Deed of Assignment of Trademark Template

Size: 12 KB

Deed of Assignment: Executors to Beneficiary Template

deed of assignement executors to beneficiary 2

Size: 51 KB

Sample Deed of Assignment and Undertaking Template

How to Create a Deed of Assignment

Believe it or not, you can create a deed of assignment on your own. You just need the right steps to guide you and the appropriate resources to help you have it done. Below are some easy-to-follow steps that you will really find useful.

Decide what your deed of assignment is going to be about. Think of the details that you want to include in it that specifically has something to do with its transfer.
If you must, list down these details and other specifications that you want to include in your deed of assignment.
Once you have that decided or identified, go online and look for a deed of assignment template that contains the same details and specifications that you need, or a template that is similar to what you need.
When you already found the template, download it to your computer or laptop. Also check if it the file type is supported by the sample applications you have on your computer or laptop, like Word or PDF.
Open the downloaded file. If you need to change anything, or add and remove some parts, feel free to do so. Just make sure that it does not change the meaning of the paragraph, sentence, or part that you made changes to.
When you are satisfied with the changes that you have made, go back to the very first page and review your work. Make sure that everything is covered in your document.
After finalizing your work, save the changes that you have made. Saving your work allows you to retrieve it later on if you have a need for it in the future.
Print enough copies that you need for your transaction.

Now you should have a deed of assignment of your own with your preferred details. Things get pretty easy and convenient with the use of templates. It is just like the one we did above. To get hold of other useful templates, feel free to visit our website and check a variety of templates from there. Other titles you may be interested in are Quit Claim Deed, Investment Contract , and Shareholders Agreement .

Advantages of Deed of Assignment Templates

With the steps above, you probably have an idea how great templates are. But its greatness does not stop there because more of it are in store for you. Below is a list of some of the advantages of a deed of assignment template.

There are different varieties of deed of of assignment templates online so you can look for the template that is just right for your needs.
The templates are from reliable and trusted sources so you are sure that the one you will find online is capable of handling your situation.
Using ready-made templates ensures that the deed of assignment produced is one that is complete.
The creation of the document becomes fast and convenient for anyone who wishes to make their very own deed of assignment.
The use of the templates is highly recommended because of its level of accuracy, which is belied to be little to no mistakes at all.

That is a lot of advantages that you can get from these templates. Another good thing is, even with just sample on hand, you can pretty much get the same advantages similar to that of templates. If you find this article helpful, you will also love other articles that we offer on our website. To name a few are Asset Purchase Agreement , Essential Financial Statements for Your Business , and Legal Bill of Sale .

43 CFR § 2521.3 - Assignment.

(a) Lands which may be assigned. While by the Act of March 3, 1891 ( 26 Stat. 1096 ; 43 U.S.C. 329 ), assignments of desert-land entries were recognized, the Department of the Interior , largely for administrative reasons, held that a desert-land entry might be assigned as a whole or in its entirety, but refused to recognize the assignment of only a portion of an entry. The Act of March 28, 1908, however, provides for an assignment of such entries, in whole or in part, but this does not mean that less than a legal subdivision may be assigned. Therefore no assignment, otherwise than by legal subdivisions, will be recognized. The legal subdivisions assigned must be contiguous.

(b) Qualifications of assignees.

(1) The Act of March 28, 1908, also provides that no person may take a desert-land entry by assignment unless he is qualified to enter the tract so assigned to him. Therefore, if a person is not at least 21 years of age and, excepting Nevada, a resident citizen of the State wherein the land involved is located; or if he is not a ciitzen of the United States, or a person who has declared his intention to become a citizen thereof; or, if he has made a desert-land entry in his own right and is not entitled under § 2521.1 to make a second or an additional entry, he cannot take such an entry by assignment. The language of the act indicates that the taking of an entry by assignment is equivalent to the making of an entry, and this being so, no person is allowed to take more than one entry by assignment, unless it be done as the exercise of a right of second or additional entry.

(2) A person who has the right to make a second or additional desert-land entry may exercise that right by taking an assignment of a desert-land entry, or part of such entry, if he is otherwise qualified to make a desert-land entry for the particular tract assigned.

(3) The Act of March 28, 1908, also provides that no assignment to or for the benefit of any corporation shall be authorized or recognized.

(1) As evidence of the assignment there should be transmitted to the authorizing officer the original deed of assignment or a certified copy thereof. Where the deed of assignment is recorded a certified copy may be made by the officer who has custody of the record. Where the original deed is presented to an officer qualified to take proof in desert-land cases, a copy certified by such officer will be accepted.

(2) An assignee must file with his deed of assignment, a statement on a form approved by the Director , showing his qualifications to take the entry assigned to him. He must show what applications or entries, if any, have been made by him or what entries assigned to him under the agricultural public land laws, and he must also show his qualifications as a citizen of the United States; that he is 21 years of age or over; and also that he is a resident citizen of the State in which the land assigned to him is situated, except in the State of Nevada, where citizenship of the United States only is required. If the assignee is not a native-born citizen of the United States, he should also furnish a statement as to his citizenship status in accordance with subpart 1811 of this chapter. If the assignee is a woman, she should in all cases state whether she is married, and if so, she must make the showing required by subpart 1811 of this chapter. Desert-land entries are initiated by the payment of 25 cents per acre, and no assignable right is acquired by the application prior to such payment. (6 L.D. 541, 33 L.D. 152.) An assignment made on the day of such payment, or soon thereafter, is treated as suggesting fraud, and such cases will be carefully scrutinized. The provisions of law authorizing the assignment of desert entries, in whole or in part, furnish no authority to a claimant under said law to make an executory contract to convey the land after the issuance of patent and thereafter to proceed with the submission of final proof in furtherance of such contract. (34 L.D. 383.) The sale of land embraced in an entry at any time before final payment is made must be regarded as an assignment of the entry, and in such cases the person buying the land must show that he possesses all the qualifications required of an assignee. (29 L.D. 453.) The assignor of a desert-land entry may execute the assignment before any officer authorized to take acknowledgements of deeds. The assignee must furnish a statement on a form approved by the Director as to his qualifications.

(3) No assignments of desert-land entries or parts of entries are conclusive until examined in the proper office and found satisfactory and the assignment recognized. When recognized, however, the assignee takes the place of the assignor as effectively as though he had made the entry, and is subject to any requirement that may be made relative thereto. The assignment of a desert-land entry to one disqualified to acquire title under the desert-land law, and to whom, therefore, recognition of the assignment is refused by the authorizing officer , does not of itself render the entry fraudulent, but leaves the right thereto in the assignor. In such connection, however, see 42 L.D. 90 and 48 L.D. 519.

(4) All applications for recognition of assignment of desert-land entries must be accompanied by an application service fee of $10 which will not be returnable.

29 Jan 2024

Patent Assignment: How to Transfer Ownership of a Patent

By Michael K. Henry, Ph.D.

Intellectual Property
Patent Prosecution

This is the second in a two-part blog series on owning and transferring the rights to a patent. ( Read part one here. )

As we discussed in the first post in this series, patent owners enjoy important legal and commercial benefits: They have the right to exclude others from making, selling, using or importing the claimed invention, and to claim damages from anyone who infringes their patent.

However, a business entity can own a patent only if the inventors have assigned the patent rights to the business entity. So if your employees are creating valuable IP on behalf of your company, it’s important to get the patent assignment right, to ensure that your business is the patent owner.

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at what a patent assignment even is — and the best practices for approaching the process. But remember, assignment (or transfer of ownership) is a function of state law, so there might be some variation by state in how all this gets treated.

What Is a Patent Assignment and Why Does it Matter?

A patent assignment is an agreement where one entity (the “assignor”) transfers all or part of their right, title and interest in a patent or application to another entity (the “assignee”).

In simpler terms, the assignee receives the original owner’s interest and gains the exclusive rights to pursue patent protection (through filing and prosecuting patent applications), and also to license and enforce the patent.

Ideally, your business should own its patents if it wants to enjoy the benefits of the patent rights. But under U.S. law , only an inventor or an assignee can own a patent — and businesses cannot be listed as an inventor. Accordingly, patent assignment is the legal mechanism that transfers ownership from the inventor to your business.

Patent Assignment vs. Licensing

Keep in mind that an assignment is different from a license. The difference is analogous to selling versus renting a house.

In a license agreement, the patent owner (the “licensor”) gives another entity (the “licensee”) permission to use the patented technology, while the patent owner retains ownership. Like a property rental, a patent license contemplates an ongoing relationship between the licensor and licensee.

In a patent assignment, the original owner permanently transfers its ownership to another entity. Like a property sale, a patent assignment is a permanent transfer of legal rights.

U sing Employment Agreements to Transfer Patent Ownership

Before your employees begin developing IP, implement strong hiring policies that ensure your IP rights will be legally enforceable in future.

If you’re bringing on a new employee, have them sign an employment agreement that establishes up front what IP the company owns — typically, anything the employee invents while under your employment. This part of an employment agreement is often presented as a self-contained document, and referred to as a “Pre-Invention Assignment Agreement” (PIAA).

The employment agreement should include the following provisions:

Advance assignment of any IP created while employed by your company, or using your company’s resources
An obligation to disclose any IP created while employed by your company, or using your company’s resources
An ongoing obligation to provide necessary information and execute documents related to the IP they created while employed, even after their employment ends
An obligation not to disclose confidential information to third parties, including when the employee moves on to a new employer

To track the IP your employees create, encourage your employees to document their contributions by completing invention disclosure records .

But the paperwork can be quite involved, which is why your employment policies should also include incentives to create and disclose valuable IP .

Drafting Agreements for Non-Employees

Some of the innovators working for your business might not have a formal employer-employee relationship with the business. If you don’t make the appropriate arrangements beforehand, this could complicate patent assignments. Keep an eye out for the following staffing arrangements:

Independent contractors: Some inventors may be self-employed, or they may be employed by one of your service providers.
Joint collaborators: Some inventors may be employed by, say, a subsidiary or service company instead of your company.
Anyone who did work through an educational institution : For example, Ph.D. candidates may not be employees of either their sponsoring institution or your company.

In these cases, you can still draft contractor or collaborator agreements using the same terms outlined above. Make sure the individual innovator signs it before beginning any work on behalf of your company.

O btaining Written Assignments for New Patent Applications

In addition to getting signed employment agreements, you should also get a written assignments for each new patent application when it’s filed, in order to memorialize ownership of the specific patent property.

Don’t rely exclusively on the employment agreement to prove ownership:

The employment agreement might contain confidential terms, so you don’t want to record them with the patent office
Because employment agreements are executed before beginning the process of developing the invention, they won’t clearly establish what specific patent applications are being assigned

While you can execute the formal assignment for each patent application after the application has been filed, an inventor or co-inventor who no longer works for the company might refuse to execute the assignment.

As such, we recommend executing the assignment before filing, to show ownership as of the filing date and avoid complications (like getting signatures from estranged inventors).

How to Execute a Written Patent Agreement

Well-executed invention assignments should:

Be in writing: Oral agreements to assign patent rights are typically not enforceable in the United States
Clearly identify all parties: Include the names, addresses, and relationship of the assignor(s) and assignee
Clearly identify the patent being assigned: State the patent or patent application number, title, inventors, and filing date
Be signed by the assignors
Be notarized : If notarization isn’t possible, have one or two witnesses attest to the signatures

Recording a Patent Assignment With the USPTO

Without a recorded assignment with the U.S. patent office, someone else could claim ownership of the issued patent, and you could even lose your rights in the issued patent in some cases.

So the patent owner (the Assignee) should should record the assignment through the USPTO’s Assignment Recordation Branch . They can use the Electronic Patent Assignment System (EPAS) to file a Recordation Cover Sheet along with a copy of the actual patent assignment agreement.

They should submit this paperwork within three months of the assignment’s date. If it’s recorded electronically, the USPTO won’t charge a recordation fee .

Need to check who owns a patent? The USPTO website publicly lists all information about a patent’s current and previous assignments.

When Would I Need to Execute a New Assignment for a Related Application?

You’ll need only one patent assignment per patent application, unless new matter is introduced in a new filing (e.g., in a continuation-in-part , or in a non-provisional application that adds new matter to a provisional application ). In that case, you’ll need an additional assignment to cover the new matter — even if it was developed by the same inventors.

What If an Investor Won’t Sign the Written Assignment?

If you can’t get an inventor to sign an invention assignment, you can still move forward with a patent application — but you’ll need to document your ownership. To document ownership, you can often rely on an employee agreement , company policy , invention disclosure , or other employment-related documentation.

D o I Need to Record My Assignments in Foreign Countries?

Most assignments transfer all rights, title, and interest in all patent rights throughout the world.

But in some countries, the assignment might not be legally effective until the assignment has been recorded in that country — meaning that the assignee can’t enforce the patent rights, or claim damages for any infringement that takes place before the recordation.

And there might be additional formal requirements that aren’t typically required in the United States. For example, some countries might require a transfer between companies to be signed by both parties, and must contain one or both parties’ addresses.

If you’re assigning patents issued by a foreign country, consult a patent attorney in that country to find out what’s required to properly document the transfer of ownership.

N eed Help With Your Patent Assignments?

Crafting robust assignment agreements is essential to ensuring the proper transfer of patent ownership. An experienced patent professional can help you to prepare legally enforceable documentation.

Henry Patent Law Firm has worked with tech businesses of all sizes to execute patent assignments — contact us now to learn more.

GOT A QUESTION? Whether you want to know more about the patent process or think we might be a good fit for your needs – we’d love to hear from you!

Michael K. Henry, Ph.D.

Michael K. Henry, Ph.D., is a principal and the firm’s founding member. He specializes in creating comprehensive, growth-oriented IP strategies for early-stage tech companies.

10 Jan 2024

Geothermal Energy: An Overview of the Patent Landscape

By Michael Henry

Don't miss a new article. Henry Patent Law's Patent Law News + Insights blog is designed to help people like you build smart, scalable patent strategies that protect your intellectual property as your business grows. Subscribe to receive email updates every time we publish a new article — don't miss out on key tips to help your business be more successful.

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Assignment Recordation Branch (ARB)

Local 571-272-3350 Email [email protected]

Helps customers with transferring ownership or changing the name on their patent or trademark registration using Assignment Center . Also provides information relating to pending patent or trademark assignments, and answers questions about assignments, liens on patents, and filing assignments recordation forms.

Assistance is available Monday through Friday (except federal holidays) from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

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Deed of Assignment Sample
Draft Deed of Assignment
Deed of Assignment
Deed of Absolute Sale of Real Property in a More Elaborate Form.pdf
Deed of Assignment Template
11. DEED OF ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF RIGHTS.docx

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Deed of Assignment
The deed of assignment is the main document between the seller and buyer that proves ownership in favor of the seller. The party who is transferring his or her rights to the property is known as the "assignor," while the party who is receiving the rights is called the "assignee.". A deed of assignment is required in many different ...
Deed of Assignment: Everything You Need to Know
The Deed of Assignment is required to effect a transfer of property and to show the legal right to possess it. It is always a subject of debate whether Deed of Assignment is a contract; a Deed of Assignment is actually a contract where the owner (the "assignor") transfers ownership over certain property to another person (the "assignee ...
Deed of Assignment: Everything You Need to Know
4 min. In the realm of intellectual property, a Deed of Assignment is a formal legal document used to transfer all rights, title, and interest in intellectual property from the assignor (original owner) to the assignee (new owner). This is crucial for the correct transfer of patents, copyrights, trademarks, and other IP rights.
Assignments: The Basic Law
Assignments: The Basic Law. The assignment of a right or obligation is a common contractual event under the law and the right to assign (or prohibition against assignments) is found in the majority of agreements, leases and business structural documents created in the United States. As with many terms commonly used, people are familiar with the ...
302-Recording of Assignment Documents
37 CFR 3.11 Documents which will be recorded. (a) Assignments of applications, patents, and registrations, and other documents relating to interests in patent applications and patents, accompanied by completed cover sheets as specified in § 3.28 and § 3.31 , will be recorded in the Office. Other documents, accompanied by completed cover ...
What Is the Difference Between the Deed of Absolute Sale and the Deed
The deed of assignment transfers or "assigns" the seller's rights in the property to another lender. References U.S. Legal: Absolute Sale Law and Legal Definition
Drafting a Deed of Assignment
A Deed of Assignment is a vital legal document used to transfer rights, interests or assets between parties. It is regularly used in business transactions, and often regarding real estate or intellectual property. A well-crafted deed of assignment can protect both sides from potential legal disputes, ensuring that everyone involved understands ...
What is an Assignment of Deed & How Does it Work
An assignment of deed is used to show the deed of a property changing from one party to another, such as when a sale is made. It is used as the written proof to show who has rightful ownership of the property. When someone is purchasing property and decides to sell it before they have paid it off, an assignment of deed form would be used to transfer the rights and everything associated with ...
Deed of Assignment
A Deed of Assignment is an instrument of transfer which is used in real estate transactions to transfer legal title or the ownership of a land or building from the title holder (called the assignor) to another called the assignee, usually for a consideration (money or money's worth). The title transfer is done in writing, signed, sealed and delivered by the parties to the transaction.
Deeds of assignment
The assignment of claims was recorded in a deed of assignment dated 25 August 2016 between the liquidators and the Assignee (the " Deed "). Under the terms of the Deed, the liquidators ...
What is a Deed of Assignment? Definition and Examples
Read forth to learn more about it. A deed is a signed legal document containing all the legal statutes, laws, and agreement clauses for transferring a property or financial assets from previous owners to a new one. Such a document is required to transfer property, tenancies, mortgages, wills, power of attorney, and a partnership agreement.
FREE 17+ Deed of Assignment Samples in PDF
A deed of assignment is used as an evidence that a certain transfer transaction has taken place between an assignor and the assignee. It is a document used to show that the assignor has transferred all of their rights, claims, interests, and ownership of a certain property to the assignee. It is a proof of the assignor's promise that they are ...
Transferring ownership/ Assignments FAQs
Assignment Center makes it easier to transfer ownership or change the name on your patent or trademark registration. See our how-to guides on using Assignment Center for patents and trademarks. If you have questions, email [email protected] or call customer service at 800-972-6382. Show all FAQs. Browse FAQs.
ASSIGNMENT OF NOTE
ASSIGNMENT OF DEED OF TRUST. THIS ASSIGNMENT is entered into effective this 30 th day of September, 2013 by and between Global Casinos, Inc., a Utah corporation ("Assignor") and Gemini Gaming, LLC, a Colorado limited liability company ("Assignee").. WITNESSETH. WHEREAS, Astraea Investment Management, LP ("Astraea")was Beneficiary of that certain Deed of Trust executed by Casinos USA, Inc ...
2521.3
(a) Lands which may be assigned. While by the Act of March 3, 1891 (26 Stat. 1096; 43 U.S.C. 329), assignments of desert-land entries were recognized, the Department of the Interior, largely for administrative reasons, held that a desert-land entry might be assigned as a whole or in its entirety, but refused to recognize the assignment of only a portion of an entry.
Trademark assignments: Transferring ownership or changing your name
Answer "yes" to the question at the beginning of the form that asks if you need to change the owner's name or entity information. Enter the new name in the "Owner" field in the "Owner Information" section of the form. Your request to update the owner information will be reviewed by a USPTO employee and entered, if appropriate.
Understanding Secondary Market Assignments and the Mortgage ...
Similarly, under long-standing law throughout the United States, when a note secured by a mortgage is transferred, the transfer of the note "carries with it the security, without any formal assignment or delivery, or even mention" of the mortgage. (Carpenter v. Longan (1872) 83 U.S. 271, 275, 21 L. Ed. 313; see In re Vargas (Bankr.
Patent Assignment: How to Transfer Ownership of a Patent
Be in writing: Oral agreements to assign patent rights are typically not enforceable in the United States. Clearly identify all parties: Include the names, addresses, and relationship of the assignor (s) and assignee. Clearly identify the patent being assigned: State the patent or patent application number, title, inventors, and filing date.
301-Ownership/Assignability of Patents and Applications
The assignment records, relating to original or reissue patents, including digests and indexes (for assignments recorded on or after May 1, 1957), and published patent applications are open to public inspection at the United States Patent and Trademark Office, and copies of patent assignment records may be obtained upon request and payment of ...
Assignment and novation
Like assignment, novation transfers the benefits under a contract but unlike assignment, novation transfers the burden under a contract as well. In a novation the original contract is extinguished and is replaced by a new one in which a third party takes up rights and obligations which duplicate those of one of the original parties to the ...
PDF Supreme Court of the United States
MERSCORP Inc., No. 14-10392, 2015 WL 3937927 (5th Cir. June 26, 2015) (making an "Erie guess" that the Texas Supreme Court would interpret Texas Local Government Code. § 192.007 as imposing no duty to record assignments of deeds of trust when the interests in related promis-sory notes are transferred).
Assignment Recordation Branch (ARB)
Assignment Recordation Branch (ARB) Local. 571-272-3350. [email protected]. Helps customers with transferring ownership or changing the name on their patent or trademark registration using Assignment Center. Also provides information relating to pending patent or trademark assignments, and answers questions about assignments, liens on ...
PDF Deed of Assignment
Deed of Assignment: Page 1 of 4 Deed of Assignment To change the legal ownership of a life assurance policy or a capital redemption policy by way of gift only (gift assignment ... Inc, a company whose principal place of business is in the United States of America or Prudential plc, an international group incorporated in the United Kingdom ...

Deed of Assignment: Everything You Need to Know

What Is an Assignment?

What Is a Deed of Assignment?

Requirements for a Deed of Assignment

Information to Include in a Deed of Assignment

DEED OF ASSIGNMENT: EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW.

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Introduction

Definitions (feel free to skip)

Defining the Deed of Assignment

Q: Does a Deed of Assignment need to be signed?

Q: What is the difference between an assignment and a novation?

Q: Is a Deed of Assignment legally binding in different jurisdictions?

Q: Are there any tax implications when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Q: Do I need legal advice when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Q: How can I ensure that my Deed of Assignment is valid?

Q: What information do I need to provide when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

Q: What are common mistakes made when drafting a Deed of Assignment?

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