You can transfer real estate to someone else by selling it, giving it away or leaving it to someone in your will. Transfers don't have to involve money, and they can be as simple as adding or deleting the name on a deed. As the grantor -- the person granting title to someone else -- you do have to fill out a deed transferring your title to the new owner, the grantee.
There are several different types of deeds, but in California the grant deed is the most common. Signing it says you haven't given title to anyone else already, and there are no title issues, liens or encumbrances not identified in the deed. If you break the guarantee, the grantee can sue you. A quitclaim deed transfers any title you have -- but if you don't have a valid title claim, you can't be held liable. The quitclaim gives the grantee no guarantees. California also has a Transfer on Death (TOD) deed that is revocable while alive and prevents potential tax issues since the property is given at death. TODs avoid probate.
Every state has its standard deed form, and you need to use the right one for your state. If you're not using a lawyer, you can download it from legal websites or find it at legal stationery stores. In California, no matter which deed you use, the finished document must include your name as grantor and the name of the grantee. It must say that you are conveying title and identify the property by either street address or legal description. The legal description must be identical to the one on the deed that gave you title.
If you give a signed deed to the grantee, that's a valid title transfer. The grantee doesn't need to sign, and you don't need witnesses. To get it down in the county records that you're no longer the owner, you have more paperwork ahead. Take the deed to a notary and sign it there, then have the notary place her signature and seal on the document. Under a 2013 law, she has to get your thumbprint in her record book as well.
Once the deed is notarized, download a preliminary change of ownership form from the county assessor's office. Take the deed and the form down to the county recorder's office and pay the related fees to have the deed registered. If there are other taxes due, those have to be paid too. By the end of the day, the county should have the grantee on file as the new owner.