What Documents Do You Need to Sell Land? The Closing Checklist
Updated September 2026 by Cooper and Jennifer Best, Best Land Holdings.
Selling land takes less paperwork than most people expect, especially when the buyer and the title company or closing attorney do the heavy lifting. Here is exactly what you need at each stage, plus the extra items for estates, trusts and companies.
To get an offer
- The county and state
- The parcel number (APN, PIN or tax ID), found on your tax bill or the county website
- Rough acreage, if you know it
- Anything you know about access, utilities or past surveys (helpful, not required)
That is all. We research comparable sales, access, zoning, flood zones and taxes ourselves.
To sign the purchase agreement
A simple purchase agreement that states the price, the closing timeline and who pays which costs. Read it, ask questions, and make sure every owner on the deed (or the person with authority to sign) will be able to sign at closing.
What the title company or closing attorney will ask for
- Government-issued photo ID for each signer. You show it to the notary; never email ID or bank details to a buyer.
- Your deed, if you have a copy. If not, the title company pulls it from county records.
- Marital status. In some states a spouse must sign even if not on the deed.
- Payoff information for any mortgage, loan or lien on the land.
- Seller information form and tax reporting forms (such as the information used for the IRS 1099-S). The closing agent provides these.
- Wire or check instructions for your proceeds. Give these directly to the closing office, and confirm by phone using a number you looked up yourself.
Extra items for special situations
- Inherited land: a death certificate and court letters naming the executor or administrator, or documents establishing the heirs. See how to sell inherited land.
- Land in a trust: a certificate of trust or the trust pages naming the trustee and their powers.
- Land owned by an LLC or corporation: formation documents and a resolution or operating agreement showing who can sign.
- Power of attorney: the original or a recorded copy, if someone is signing for you. Some title companies require it to be recorded.
- Name changes: if your name has changed since you bought the land, a marriage certificate or court order.
- Divorce: the decree, if it addresses the land.
Documents that are nice to have
- Old surveys or plats
- Perc or soil test results
- Recorded easements or road maintenance agreements
- Timber cruise or harvest records
- Association (POA/HOA) contact information
How closing works when you live far away
- The closing agent emails or overnights the documents to you.
- You sign in front of a mobile notary who comes to your home or office. (We pay for the notary.)
- You return the originals in a prepaid envelope.
- The deed is recorded with the county, and you are paid by wire or check.
How long it takes
Most sales close in 2 to 4 weeks. Estates, missing heirs, unreleased old mortgages or other title issues can add time. We tell you up front if we see anything in the title search.
Frequently asked questions
I lost my deed. Can I still sell?
Yes. Deeds are public records. The title company gets a copy from the county.
Do I need a survey?
Not to sell to us. Some buyers require one; we do not.
Can I sign electronically?
It depends on the state and county. Many land closings still require a wet signature before a notary, sometimes with remote online notarization allowed. The closing agent will tell you.
Related guides
Get a real number for your land
Call or text 720-807-7989 with your county and parcel number, or request a written cash offer. You will get a written offer, usually within 48 hours, with the comparable sales and details behind it. There is no cost and no obligation.
This guide is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules vary by state and county; confirm your situation with a local attorney, title company or tax professional.