A homestead is a house, outbuildings and adjoining land owned by a person or a family and used as a residence. A homestead declaration is a form filed with the county recorder's office that records a person's homestead exemption; which is a legal provision that prevents creditors from being paid off from a debtor's homestead, and also includes a homestead‘s exemption from property taxes and the death of the homeowner's spouse.
In most states, homestead exemptions are automatic and homeowners are not required to record a homestead declaration in order to claim a homestead exemption. Some states, however, do require recording in this procedure.
Usually the homestead declaration is signed by the homeowner, notarized, and then filed in the recorder's office in the county where the home is located.
See also: homestead exemption; homestead
[Last updated in March of 2022 by the Wex Definitions Team]