Grantor Definition and Legal Meaning

On this page, you'll find the legal definition and meaning of Grantor, written in plain English, along with examples of how it is used.

What is Grantor?

History and Meaning of Grantor

A grantor is basically the person who transfers ownership of a piece of property to another person, usually through some form of legal documentation. This might involve a deed or a letter of grant, and it's something that happens in many different areas of law. The term itself has been used in legal contexts for centuries, and it comes from the Latin word "grants," which means "to grant or give."

Examples of Grantor

Here are a few examples of how the term grantor might be used in different contexts:

• Real estate: In real estate law, the grantor is the person who is selling or transferring ownership of a piece of property to another person. The grantor might be an individual, a business, or even a government entity.
• Trusts: In trust law, the grantor is the person who creates a trust by transferring assets into it. The grantor might also be referred to as the "settlor" or "donor" of the trust.
• Intellectual property: In the realm of intellectual property law, the grantor might refer to the person who is licensing or transferring a patent, copyright, or trademark to another person or entity.

Legal Terms Similar to Grantor

Here are a few related legal terms that might come up in the context of a grantor:

• Grantee: The grantee is the person who is receiving ownership or control of the property or assets in question.
• Deed: A deed is a legal document that transfers ownership of a piece of property from one person or entity to another.
• Trustee: The trustee is the person or entity responsible for managing the assets in a trust and distributing them to the beneficiaries.
• Settlor: The settlor is another term that is sometimes used in place of grantor when referring to the person who created a trust.