Final answer:
Recording a deed gives constructive notice of ownership and helps protect the new owner's rights. It does not remove prior recorded encumbrances or cause title to pass. It also does not make the deed valid.
Step-by-step explanation:
The function of recording a deed is to give constructive notice of ownership. When a deed is recorded, it becomes a public record that provides evidence of ownership and alerts others that the property has been transferred. This helps protect the new owner's rights and prevents conflicting claims.
Recording a deed does not remove all prior recorded encumbrances. While the recording of a new deed may cancel or supersede any prior unrecorded interests in the property, it does not automatically remove any existing recorded encumbrances such as mortgages or liens.
Recording a deed also does not cause title to pass. The transfer of title occurs when the deed is delivered and accepted by the buyer. Recording the deed afterwards is simply a public declaration of the ownership change.
Although recording a deed is an important step in protecting ownership rights, it does not make the deed valid. A deed must meet certain requirements to be valid, such as being signed by the grantor, containing a legal description of the property, and being properly notarized.