A visitor finds a signed deed from a deceased grantor but with no grantee's name. Why might this deed not hold up in court?

The answer highlights a critical legal principle regarding property conveyance through deeds: for a deed to be valid, it generally must demonstrate a clear intent to transfer ownership and typically must include consideration, which refers to something of value exchanged for the property. If a deed is signed by the grantor but lacks a named grantee, it raises significant doubts about whether there was an actual intent to convey the property to another party.

Without a grantee, there is no clear indication of who is supposed to receive the property; hence, it would be practically impossible to enforce the transfer of ownership. Courts require that there be a clear intention to transfer title, evidenced by the naming of the grantee as well as the exchange of consideration. Therefore, without both of these vital elements, a deed would likely be deemed incomplete and unenforceable in court.

Other options presented could contribute to the invalidity of a deed in different contexts—for example, the lack of notarization might affect its authenticity, and failure to record a deed can influence the protection of ownership rights against third parties—but the absence of a grantee fundamentally undermines the deed's effectiveness in conveying property ownership.