A grant deed recorded with the county is usually the simplest way to add your partner to title. A grant deed affirmatively conveys an ownership interest to another person, which makes it different from a quitclaim deed. A quitclaim only transfers whatever interest you currently hold, so someone with no interest in a property who signs a quitclaim conveys nothing. Other routes include holding the property in a trust so it passes automatically at death, or, in California specifically, a transfer-on-death deed you sign and record with the county to pass the property outside probate. Most of our clients handle the deed through a title or escrow company or a real estate attorney and pay little more than county recording fees, so the mechanics tend to be inexpensive. The bigger question is often tax, and it deserves a professional's eyes before you record anything. How you hold title affects the step-up in cost basis: - With joint tenancy, only the deceased owner's half gets a stepped-up basis. - With community property, a married survivor can get a stepped-up basis on the entire property. That distinction can matter a great deal down the road, so confirm the right structure with an estate or tax advisor first.