Definition
Imagine buying a car from someone who doesn't actually own it. A wild deed is similar—it shows up in public records, but it breaks the chain of ownership. The person who sold the property wasn't properly recorded as the owner, so their deed to you doesn't hold water legally. It's a serious title problem that needs fixing.
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Find my pathAbout this term
A wild deed is recorded in the public record but doesn't form a proper chain of title. This typically happens when someone sells property they don't legally own according to public records. For example, if John sells property he supposedly inherited but the inheritance was never recorded, his deed to Sarah is 'wild'—it's recorded but breaks the chain because John's ownership never appears in the title record. Wild deeds are dangerous because they appear to convey property but legally don't. They create a 'gap' in the chain of title that makes the property unmarketable until corrected. Title insurers won't insure property with wild deeds, and subsequent buyers will discover the problem during title search. The remedy typically involves tracing the chain of title, locating the missing deed or document, and recording it properly.
Pro Tip
If your title search reveals a wild deed, call your title company immediately. They're equipped to fix this, but don't ignore it or close without resolution.
Example
Marcus inherits a house but the estate never formally records the inheritance deed. He later sells it to Patricia, and his deed to Patricia is recorded. Patricia's title search shows Marcus didn't have record title, so his deed to her is a 'wild deed' and she doesn't have legal ownership until the inheritance deed is located and recorded.