A deed is a conveyance of lands from one individual to another. Deeds may be either voluntary or involuntary. A voluntary deed is one made in pursuance of an agreement between the parties; an involuntary deed is one made under an order of court. The various forms of conveyances,7 and the constituent parties of a deed8 will be discussed later in this subject.

Where an individual transfers property to the public, such a grant is called a dedication. Such a dedication may be either a statutory dedication, in which case, the exact provisions of the statutes must be followed, or a common law dedication which requires no particular formalities.9

A dedication may convey either the fee or only an easement.

6 Warvelle on Real Property, pp.

160, and 161, 2nd Ed.

7 See Chapter X (Forms Of Conveyances. Section 85. In General).

8 See Chapter VII (Conveyance Of Real Property. Section 67. Grantors And Grantees).

9 "Dedications are susceptible of several classifications. The first, and most general, is a division into express and implied; the former being where the act is performed by deed or other writing, vote, overt acts, or declarations; the latter rests on a presumption, and results from acquiescence in the public use. A further distinction is made in the United States between common-law and statutory dedications, and some writers make this the primary classification; but a critical examination will demonstrate that statutory dedication is but one form of express dedication, and differs from a common law dedication, not so much in the method of performance as in its effect. A third distinction exists between dedications absolute and to specific uses, and by far the greatest amount of litigation which has attended this branch of the law has originated in questions growing out of this distinction."