50-State Instrument Name Table
Legal information, not legal advice. Verify against the cited primary sources before acting. Statutes in this area are frequently amended. Last verified: 2026-06-08.
The same seller-financed installment sale of real estate travels under a dozen different names across the 56 US jurisdictions. The label matters: it points you to the statute (if any) that governs disclosures, recording, and remedies, and it tells you whether you are dealing with a statutory term of art (e.g., Louisiana’s “bond for deed,” Ohio’s “land installment contract”) or a generic common-law instrument recognized only through case law and the statute of frauds.
This table gives, for each jurisdiction: the in-state name(s) the courts, statutes, and practitioners actually use (the bolded name is the controlling/dominant term where one exists); whether the instrument is recognized by statute, common law, or both; and the statutory home — the chapter/section the jurisdiction’s page (§0) identifies as the primary source, or “none specific” where the device lives entirely in case law. Each row links the jurisdiction page; see the named concept pages for the doctrines behind the labels.
How to read “Recognition”: Statutory = a dedicated or near-dedicated CFD chapter defines/regulates the instrument; Common law = no CFD-specific statute, the device is a creature of case law + general real-property statutes; Both = a statute names or partly regulates it while core doctrine remains judge-made. ”—” / “none specific” means no CFD-dedicated statutory home exists; the listed sections are the nearest general provisions the source page cites.
The table
| Jurisdiction | Dominant / statutory name | Other in-state names | Recognition | Statutory home (per §0) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| alabama | bond for title | contract for the sale of land; installment sales contract; contract for deed; land contract | Common law | None specific — recording Ala. Code § 35-4-53; SOF § 8-9-2 |
| alaska | installment land contract | real estate sales contract; land sale contract; contract for deed | Common law | None specific — SOF AS 09.25.010; recording AS ch. 40.17; mortgages AS ch. 34.20 |
| american-samoa | (no term of art) — “agreement for the sale of real property” | contract for deed; installment land contract; land contract | Common law | None dedicated — A.S.C.A. Title 37, ch. 02 (Alienation of Land); SOF § 37.0211 |
| arizona | ”contract” (agreement for sale / contract for conveyance) | contract for deed; contract to convey; installment land contract | Both | A.R.S. Title 33, ch. 6, art. 3, §§ 33-741 to 33-749 |
| arkansas | contract for deed | installment land contract; land contract; agreement for deed; real estate installment sale contract | Common law | None consolidated — SOF § 4-59-101; recording § 14-15-404 |
| california | real property sales contract (statutory) | installment land contract; land sale contract; land contract; contract of sale | Both | Cal. Civ. Code ch. 2c, §§ 2985–2985.6 |
| colorado | contract for deed (statutory; “includes installment land contracts”) | installment land contract | Both | C.R.S. § 38-35-126; § 38-38-305 (no single CFD code) |
| connecticut | bond for deed (statutory mention) | installment land contract; contract for deed; land contract | Common law | None specific — SOF § 52-550; recording § 47-10; foreclosure Title 49 ch. 846 |
| delaware | ”conditional sales agreement” / seller-financed sale contract | contract for deed; installment land contract; land contract | Both | 25 Del. C. ch. 3, §§ 313–314 |
| district-of-columbia | (no term of art) — contract for deed / contract of sale | installment land contract; land contract; contract for the sale of land | Common law | None specific — ejectment D.C. Code §§ 16-1106, 16-1116; SOF § 28-3502 |
| florida | agreement for deed | contract for deed | Both | Title XL, Ch. 697 (Instruments Deemed Mortgages), §§ 697.01–697.02 |
| georgia | bond for title | contract for deed; installment sale; land contract; agreement for deed | Both | None single chapter — O.C.G.A. §§ 44-2-6, 44-5-32, 48-6-68 |
| guam | (no term of art) — contract for deed | installment land contract; land contract; agreement of sale | Common law (CA-derived statutes) | None single chapter — SOF 18 GCA § 86106; mortgages 18 GCA ch. 36 (“deemed a mortgage” § 36105) |
| hawaii | agreement of sale (statutory) | contract for deed; installment land contract; land contract | Both | None single chapter — foreclosure HRS ch. 667 (§ 667-40); recording HRS ch. 502 (§ 502-85) |
| idaho | installment sales contract | contract for deed; installment land-sale contract; real estate contract; “poor man’s mortgage” | Common law | None specific — SOF Idaho Code § 9-505(4); recording § 55-812 |
| illinois | installment sales contract (statutory) | contract for deed; bond for deed; articles of agreement for warranty deed; installment land contract | Both | Installment Sales Contract Act, 765 ILCS 67/1 et seq.; IMFL 735 ILCS 5/Art. XV |
| indiana | land contract (statutory) | conditional land sale contract; land sale contract; installment sales contract; contract for deed | Both | None single CFD statute — disclosures IC 32-21-5; recording IC 32-21-4-1; foreclosure IC 32-29-7 |
| iowa | real estate installment sales contract (statutory) | real estate contract; installment contract; land contract; contract for deed | Both | Forfeiture Iowa Code ch. 656 (§§ 656.1–656.9); foreclose-as-mortgage § 654.12 |
| kansas | contract for deed (statutory) | land contract; installment land (sales) contract; agreement for deed | Both | K.S.A. ch. 58, art. 52 — Kansas Contract for Deed Act, §§ 58-5201 to 58-5204 |
| kentucky | land contract / installment land contract | contract for deed | Common law | None specific — SOF KRS 371.010; recording KRS ch. 382; judicial-sale KRS ch. 426 |
| louisiana | bond for deed (statutory) | (generic “contract for deed”/“land contract” foreign to civil-law system) | Statutory | La. R.S. Title 9, §§ 9:2941–9:2947 (recordation § 9:2941.1) |
| maine | land installment contract (statutory) | bond for a deed / bond for deed; contract for deed; installment land contract | Both | 33 M.R.S. ch. 8, §§ 481–483; remedy 14 M.R.S. § 6203-F |
| maryland | land installment contract (statutory) | contract for deed; installment land contract | Both | Md. Code, Real Property Art., Title 10, Subtitle 1, §§ 10-101 – 10-108 |
| massachusetts | (no term of art) — contract for deed / land contract | land installment contract; agreement for deed | Common law | None CFD-specific — recording M.G.L. c. 183 §4 / c. 184 §17A; SOF c. 259 §1 |
| michigan | land contract | executory contract for the purchase of premises; contract for deed | Both | Forfeiture/summary proceedings MCL 600.5701–600.5759; judicial foreclosure MCL 600.3101 et seq.; recording MCL 565.351 et seq. |
| minnesota | contract for deed (statutory) | installment land contract | Both | Minn. Stat. ch. 559 (§ 559.21 cancellation); ch. 559A; recording § 507.235 |
| mississippi | contract for deed | installment land contract; land contract; bond for deed; real property sales contract | Common law (judicially recognized) | None dedicated — SOF § 15-3-1; recording § 89-5-1; reinstatement § 89-1-59 |
| missouri | contract for deed | installment land contract; bond for deed; land contract | Common law | None dedicated — conveyancing RSMo ch. 442; SOF § 432.010; usury ch. 408 |
| montana | contract for deed (statutory term) | installment land contract; land contract | Common law (scattered statutory touchpoints) | None single home — MCA 70-20-115; 76-3-303; relief-from-forfeiture 28-1-104 |
| nebraska | land contract / executory contract for the sale of lands | installment land contract; contract for deed | Both | None dedicated — recording Neb. Rev. Stat. § 76-204; foreclosure ch. 25 (as mortgage) |
| nevada | land sale installment contract (statutory) | contract for deed; installment land contract | Both | None standalone — NRS 598.0923 (DTPA); definition NRS 375.010(1)(d); foreclosure NRS ch. 40 |
| new-hampshire | bond for deed (historical) | contract for deed; installment land contract | Common law | None specific — conveyancing/recording RSA ch. 477 (§§ 477:3-a, 477:15) |
| new-jersey | (no special label) — installment land contract | contract for deed; installment contract for the sale of land | Common law | None specific — SOF N.J.S.A. 25:1-11; recording 46:26A-1 et seq.; Fair Foreclosure Act 2A:50-53 |
| new-mexico | real estate contract (REC) | contract for deed; installment land contract; land contract | Common law | None specific — recording NMSA §§ 14-9-1, 14-9-3; judicial foreclosure §§ 39-5-1 to -23 |
| new-york | installment land sale contract (PCDA term) | installment land contract; land contract; contract for deed | Common law | None comprehensive — recording RPL § 294; disclosure RPL art. 14 §§ 460–467; foreclosure RPAPL art. 13 |
| north-carolina | contract for deed (statutory umbrella) | installment land contract; land contract; bond for title | Both | G.S. Chapter 47H, §§ 47H-1 to 47H-8 |
| north-dakota | contract for deed (statutory) | bond for deed; other instrument for future conveyance | Both | N.D.C.C. ch. 32-18 (Cancellation of Land Contracts), §§ 32-18-01 to 32-18-06 |
| northern-mariana-islands | (no term of art) — contract for deed | installment land contract; land sale contract; agreement of sale | Common law (via Restatements) | None dedicated — 7 CMC § 3401 (Restatements as rules of decision); recording 1 CMC §§ 3701–3705; Const. art. XII |
| ohio | land installment contract (statutory) | land contract; contract for deed | Both | Title 53, ORC Ch. 5313, §§ 5313.01–5313.10 |
| oklahoma | contract for deed (statutory) | installment land contract; land contract | Both | Title 16 (Conveyances), § 11A (Constructive mortgage) |
| oregon | land sale contract (statutory) | contract for deed; installment land contract; land contract | Both | ORS ch. 93, §§ 93.905–93.945 (forfeiture); strict foreclosure ORS ch. 88 |
| pennsylvania | installment land contract (statutory) | installment sales agreement; land sales contract; land contract; articles of agreement; contract for deed | Both | Installment Land Contract Law, 68 P.S. §§ 901–911 (1st-class cities / 2d-class counties only); recording 21 P.S. § 351 |
| puerto-rico | compraventa with precio aplazado (reserva de propiedad / pacto de retro) | (no statutory “contract for deed”) | Statutory (civil code) | Código Civil 2020 (Act 55-2020), Arts. 1274–1296 (esp. 1290, 1292), 1255, 1303 |
| rhode-island | installment-sales contract (disclosure-act term) | contract for the sale of lands; contract for deed; land contract; installment land contract | Common law | None specific — SOF § 9-1-4; conveyancing/recording ch. 34-11, 34-13; disclosures ch. 5-20.8 |
| south-carolina | installment land sales contract (disclosure term) | contract for deed; agreement for deed; bond for title | Common law (+ statutory overlays) | None single home — recording S.C. Code § 30-7-10; disclosure §§ 27-50-10 to -110 |
| south-dakota | contract for deed / executory contract for sale or exchange of real property | — | Both | SDCL Title 21, ch. 21-50 (Foreclosure of Real Estate Contracts), §§ 21-50-1 et seq. |
| tennessee | installment land sales contract (RPDA term) | contract for deed; installment land contract; installment sales agreement; land sale contract; installment deed | Common law | None single home — disclosures Title 66 ch. 5 pt. 2; vendor’s liens ch. 10; recording ch. 24 & 26 |
| texas | executory contract (statutory umbrella) | contract for deed; executory contract for conveyance; installment land contract | Both | Tex. Prop. Code Title 2, Ch. 5, Subchapter D, §§ 5.061–5.085 |
| us-virgin-islands | (no term of art) — installment land contract | contract for deed; land contract; land sale contract | Common law | None single home — SOF 28 V.I.C. ch. 11; recording ch. 7; foreclosure ch. 23 (§ 531) |
| utah | Uniform Real Estate Contract (URC) | real estate contract; installment land sale contract; contract for deed; land sale contract | Common law (URC = standardized form) | None specific — recording Utah Code Title 57 ch. 3; trust-deed reinstatement § 57-1-31 |
| vermont | contract for deed | installment land contract; land contract | Common law | None specific — foreclosure 12 V.S.A. ch. 172; conveyancing/recording 27 V.S.A. ch. 5 |
| virginia | residential executory real estate contract (statutory) | installment land contract; land contract; contract for deed; lease-option / rent-to-own | Both | Va. Code Title 55.1, Ch. 30, §§ 55.1-3000 to 55.1-3003 |
| washington | real estate contract (statutory) | installment land contract; contract for deed; land contract | Both | RCW ch. 61.30 (Real Estate Contract Forfeitures); foreclosure RCW ch. 61.12 |
| west-virginia | land contract / land installment contract | contract for deed; installment land contract | Common law | None specific — SOF §36-1-3; vendor’s lien §38-1-1; recording §§40-1-8, 40-1-9 |
| wisconsin | land contract (statutory) | contract for deed; installment land contract | Both | Wis. Stat. ch. 706 (formation); ch. 708; ch. 846 (§ 846.30 strict foreclosure) |
| wyoming | contract for deed / agreement for warranty deed | installment land contract; executory contract for the sale of lands | Common law (statutory recognition of the category) | None dedicated — SOF W.S. 1-23-105(a)(v); executory-contract recordability W.S. 34-1-102, 34-1-104 |
Patterns worth noting
- “Bond for ___” survives in the South and New England. Alabama and Georgia use bond for title; Louisiana, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and (historically) Maine use bond for deed / bond for a deed. These are the same security-purposed installment device under an older name — see bond-for-deed.
- Statutory terms of art (the label is fixed by the governing statute): California real property sales contract; Hawaii agreement of sale; Louisiana bond for deed; Maine and Maryland land installment contract; Nevada land sale installment contract; Ohio land installment contract; Oregon land sale contract; Texas executory contract; Virginia residential executory real estate contract; Washington and New Mexico real estate contract; Utah Uniform Real Estate Contract.
- The two civil-law jurisdictions stand apart. louisiana (bond for deed, statutory) and puerto-rico (compraventa with reservation of title or pacto de retro) do not use the common-law “contract for deed” vocabulary at all; Puerto Rico’s device is a named Civil Code contract, not a common-law instrument.
- “Contract for deed” as a generic appears nearly everywhere as a synonym, but is the dominant/controlling term in a minority — e.g., kansas, minnesota, montana, north-dakota, oklahoma, colorado, north-carolina, vermont, wyoming, and south-dakota — many of which also fix it by statute.
- Recognition is mostly “common law” or “both.” Only louisiana and puerto-rico are purely statutory (civil-law codes). No jurisdiction in this table is purely common-law and nameless; even the no-term-of-art jurisdictions (DC, Massachusetts, the territories) recognize the underlying sale-of-land contract.
Caveats
- This table reports the §0 “Identity & Terminology” / statutory-home content of each jurisdiction page as written and verified there. Where a jurisdiction page notes a term is used “colloquially” vs. “by statute,” that distinction is preserved in the columns (bold = controlling/statutory; the “Recognition” column flags whether a CFD-specific statute exists).
- A statutory home of “none specific / none dedicated” means the jurisdiction has no CFD-dedicated chapter; the cited sections are the nearest general provisions (statute of frauds, recording act, foreclosure chapter) that the source page identifies. It does not mean the instrument is unrecognized.
- Pennsylvania’s Installment Land Contract Law is geographically limited to cities of the first class and counties of the second class (Philadelphia and Allegheny County); statewide, the instrument is treated as a mortgage by case law. The cell flags this.
- Several territory and DC entries carry no in-state term of art; their names are the generic common-law labels, and their statutory “homes” are general property provisions. No cells in this table are left “unverified” — every name and statutory-home value is drawn directly from the cited §0 of the linked jurisdiction page.
Disclaimer. This page is legal information, not legal advice, and may be out of date. Contract-for-deed statutes are frequently amended, and the name an instrument carries does not by itself determine how a court will treat it on default. Consult a licensed attorney in the relevant jurisdiction before drafting, enforcing, or signing an installment land contract.