DEED

A legal document that grants the bearer a right or privilege, provided that he or she meets a number of conditions. In order to receive the privilege usually ownership, the bearer must be able to do so without causing others undue hardship. A person who poses a risk to society as a result of holding a deed may be restricted in his or her ability to use the property. For example, an individual who holds a deed for a particular section of land has a legal right to possess that land, but may not be able to build a shooting range on it because of the danger it would pose.