Ownership is not the same as responsibility
The deed answers the question 'who owns this property.' The mortgage answers the question 'who promised to repay this debt.' They are recorded separately and changed separately.
A quitclaim deed or similar instrument may transfer ownership interest, yet leave the loan obligation untouched — a situation that surprises many people well after the divorce is complete.
The common gap
Someone signs away ownership expecting to be free of the mortgage, then discovers the loan still appears on their credit and still counts against their own housing plans.
- Transferring title does not release loan liability
- Releasing liability usually requires the lender's action or a refinance
- Both steps should be coordinated, not assumed