Every closing package looks a little different depending on your lender and state, but a handful of documents show up almost every time. Knowing what to expect ahead of your signing keeps the appointment moving and avoids last-minute confusion.

The usual suspects

The deed of trust or mortgage is usually the longest document in the stack, and it’s the one that actually secures the loan against the property. The promissory note comes next: it’s your personal promise to repay the loan, and it’s one of the few documents you’ll sign but won’t get a copy of at closing.

You’ll also typically notarize a settlement statement, an affidavit of occupancy confirming whether you plan to live in the home, and a name affidavit if your legal name has ever changed. Title companies add their own state-specific forms on top of these.

As a signing agent, my job is to make sure every one of these gets signed, dated, and notarized correctly the first time. A single missed initial can delay funding by days.