What happens to a deed if it is expressly rejected?

When a deed is expressly rejected, this means that the intended recipient has clearly communicated their refusal to accept the deed. In property law, for a deed to be effective and for title to be transferred, there must be proper delivery and acceptance. If a deed is rejected, this rejection acts to defeat the delivery of the deed itself.

Consequently, because the essential element of acceptance is missing, title does not pass to the intended grantee. The implications of this principle are crucial in real property transactions, as it underscores the necessary conditions for a valid transfer of title. Thus, the act of rejecting the deed prevents any transfer of ownership from the grantor to the grantee, maintaining the status quo prior to the attempted conveyance.