A deeded timeshare is real property. That means transferring it works a lot like any other real estate transfer. You sign a new deed, usually a quitclaim deed. You get it notarized. Then you record it with the county where the resort is located.
Skip any of these steps and you could run into problems. The transfer might look valid on paper. But the resort’s records could still show the old owner. That means old maintenance fees keep piling up in the wrong name.
Before you draft anything, check your original purchase contract. Many resorts restrict who you can transfer to. Some charge a transfer fee. Others require written approval before they recognize the new owner.
The right process also depends on why you’re transferring the timeshare. Selling it, gifting it, adding a co-owner, or passing it through a trust or will all need different paperwork.
Each option also carries different tax consequences. For example, gifts above $19,000 per recipient in 2026 must be reported to the IRS on Form 709.
What You Need Before You Start
- A copy of your current recorded deed. If you cannot find one, your county clerk or recorder’s office can search for it, often for a small fee.
- Confirmation that maintenance fees, special assessments, and any mortgage balance on the timeshare are current or fully paid off.
- Full legal names, mailing addresses, and contact information for the person receiving the timeshare.
- Your resort’s transfer department contact information, since most resorts require notice of any ownership change.
- A notary public, either in person or through a remote online notarization service if your state allows it.
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Step 1: Confirm Your Ownership Type
Before anything else, find out whether you own a deeded timeshare or a right to use timeshare. This determines the entire process.
A deeded timeshare is real property, similar to owning a fraction of a house, and it transfers through a recorded deed. A right to use timeshare is a long term lease or contract right, not real property, so there is no deed involved at all.
Look at your original purchase documents or closing paperwork. If the word “deed” appears, you are dealing with real property.
If your paperwork refers to a membership, contract, or points allocation with no deed, you likely have a right to use interest, and the resort itself handles the transfer paperwork.
Step 2: Review Your Contract for Transfer Restrictions
Most timeshare purchase agreements include language limiting how and when an owner can transfer their interest. Some deeds also carry recorded deed restrictions that give the resort the final say over who becomes the new owner.
Read your original contract closely, or call the resort’s owner services line and ask directly. Skipping this step is one of the most common reasons a transfer later gets rejected or delayed.
Step 3: Choose the Right Transfer Method
There is more than one way to move a timeshare deed to someone else, and the right choice depends on your situation.
| Method | Best For | What Happens |
|---|---|---|
| Sale or gift deed | Transferring to a friend, buyer, or family member now | Seller signs a new deed to the recipient |
| Joint ownership | Sharing use with a spouse or family member | Both names are added to the deed |
| Living trust | Passing the timeshare down without probate | Trust holds title; successor trustee takes over |
| Will | Passing the timeshare down after death | Deed is not signed now; the Will directs the transfer at death |
| Probate | No Will, trust, or joint owner in place | Court oversees the transfer, which can take months or years |
If you are transferring to a family member while you are alive, a sale or gift deed and a living trust are the two most common routes.
Step 4: Draft the New Deed
Once you know your method, you need the actual deed document. Two types are used most often for timeshares.
A warranty deed states that the seller guarantees clear title to the property. A quitclaim deed simply transfers whatever interest the current owner holds, with no guarantee attached.
Quitclaim deeds are the more common choice for family transfers and gifts because they are simpler and faster to prepare.
The deed must include the legal description of the timeshare interest exactly as it appears on your current deed, the week or points allocation, the unit number, the names of the grantor (you) and the grantee (the recipient), and language that matches your state’s recording requirements.
Requirements vary by state, so a format that works in one state may be rejected by the county clerk in another.
Step 5: Sign and Notarize the Deed
Both the grantor and grantee typically need to sign the deed in front of a notary public. Notarization confirms the identities of the people signing and is required before most counties will accept a deed for recording.
Some states allow remote online notarization, which lets you complete this step without meeting in person. Check with your state’s secretary of state office to confirm whether this option is available where the timeshare is located.
Step 6: Record the Deed with the County
After the deed is signed and notarized, it must be recorded with the county clerk or recorder’s office where the timeshare is located, not where you live.
Recording is what makes the new ownership legally official and searchable in public records.
Expect to pay recording fees, and in some states a transfer tax or use fee as well. Processing time after you submit the deed typically runs from about one week to six weeks, depending on the county.
Step 7: Notify the Resort and Settle Outstanding Fees
The final step is telling the resort or management company that ownership has changed. Send a letter or complete the resort’s transfer form, and include the week or unit number, the points allocation if applicable, and the new owner’s contact information.
Most resorts will not update their internal ownership records, or grant the new owner access to book reservations, until they receive a copy of the recorded deed.
If the timeshare is enrolled with an exchange company such as RCI or Interval International, both parties usually need to sign a separate membership transfer form as well.
Common Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely Cause | Solution |
|---|---|---|
| County rejects the deed | Wrong format for that state, or missing legal description | Pull a sample deed from the county recorder’s website, or hire a closing company familiar with that state |
| Resort refuses the transfer | Outstanding fees, an active mortgage, or a contract restriction | Pay off the balance and confirm eligibility with the resort before drafting the deed |
| Recipient did not know the full obligation | Maintenance fees and special assessments were not disclosed | Provide a written breakdown of annual fees before they sign anything |
| Deed recorded but resort has no record of it | Resort was never formally notified | Send the recorded deed copy directly to the resort’s transfer department |
| Family dispute after the transfer | No written agreement about usage or cost sharing | Put usage schedules and fee responsibilities in writing before signing the deed |
