To be valid, a deed needs to be:

A deed must be in writing to be valid due to the Statute of Frauds, which requires certain types of contracts, including real estate transactions, to be documented in writing. This legal requirement helps establish clear evidence of the agreement between the parties involved. A written deed provides specifics such as the names of the involved parties, a description of the property, and the terms of the transfer.

While recording a deed with the county can provide public notice of the ownership and protect the interests of the grantee against future claims, it is not a prerequisite for the deed's validity itself. Similarly, state approval is not necessary for a deed to be valid; the deed becomes effective once it is executed in writing by the appropriate parties. The buyer's signature is also not a requirement for the deed's validity; typically, it is the seller's signature that is required on the deed to convey ownership to the buyer.