Voluntary alienation
National Real Estate Exam glossary · Transfer Of Title
Definition
The transfer of title by the owner's own choice, during life by deed or at death by will. It is the counterpart to involuntary alienation, which occurs by operation of law without the owner's consent.
Voluntary alienation in plain English
Voluntary alienation is just the fancy legal term for an owner choosing to hand off ownership of their property — 'alienation' here simply means transferring title (legal ownership) to someone else. You can do it while you're alive by signing a deed (the document that transfers property), or after you die through a will. The word 'voluntary' is the key: it's your own decision. That's the opposite of involuntary alienation, where the law takes or transfers your property without your consent — like when unpaid taxes force a sale.
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