Quitclaim deed form

What a quitclaim deed is

A quitclaim deed is a document that transfers one person's interest in a property to another person. The person giving up the interest is the grantor, and the person receiving it is the grantee. The key thing to understand is what a quitclaim does not do: it makes no promise that the grantor actually owns the property or that the title is free of other claims. It simply passes along whatever interest the grantor has, if any. That is why a quitclaim is used between people who already trust each other, rather than in an arms-length sale to a stranger, where a warranty deed with its stronger guarantees is the norm.

This is a general template and general information, not legal advice. Property law and recording rules vary widely by location, and a deed usually has to be signed, often notarized, and recorded with a local office to be effective against others. Requirements differ from place to place, so confirm what your local recording office needs, and for anything involving a mortgage, taxes, or a complex title, have a real estate professional or lawyer review the deed first.

When a quitclaim deed is used

• Transfers between family. Adding a spouse to a title, gifting property to a child, or moving property among relatives.
• Divorce. One spouse signs their interest in the family home over to the other as part of a settlement.
• Fixing a title. Correcting a misspelled name, a clerical error, or a cloud on the title.
• Moving property into a trust or business. Transferring ownership into a living trust or a company you control.
• Removing a claim. Having someone who might have an interest release it, so the title is clean.

In each of these cases the parties usually know and trust each other, which is exactly the situation a quitclaim suits. If you are buying property from someone you do not know, a quitclaim is rarely the right tool, because it gives you no protection if the title turns out to have problems.

Free quitclaim deed template

Copy the template below, or open it in the fill tool and type your details onto the page. Every blank line is a field you complete.

QUITCLAIM DEED

Prepared by: ____________________________________
After recording, return to: _____________________
_________________________________________________

THIS QUITCLAIM DEED is made on ____________________ [date]

GRANTOR (the person giving up interest):
  Name: __________________________________________
  Address: _______________________________________

GRANTEE (the person receiving interest):
  Name: __________________________________________
  Address: _______________________________________

For consideration of $ ______________ [amount paid, or "love and affection"
if a gift], the Grantor hereby quitclaims to the Grantee all of the Grantor's
right, title, and interest in the following described property:

  County / district: ____________________________
  Legal description:
  _________________________________________________________________
  _________________________________________________________________
  Parcel or property ID: _________________________
  Property address: ______________________________

The Grantor makes no warranty as to the title and transfers only the interest
the Grantor holds, if any.

Grantor signature: __________________   Date: ____________
Print name: ________________

State / province of ____________________
County / district of ___________________

On this date, before me, the undersigned, personally appeared the Grantor,
known to me (or proven) to be the person who signed this deed, and
acknowledged that they signed it.

Notary signature: __________________   Date: ____________
My commission expires: ______________
                                              [Notary seal]

How to fill out the quitclaim deed form

1. Open the template in the fill tool. Copy the text above, or start from the ready-made quitclaim deed form and load it into the fill a PDF tool.
2. Add the preparer and return details. Enter who prepared the deed and the address where the recorded deed should be returned after filing.
3. Name the grantor and grantee. Enter the full legal names and addresses of the person giving up the interest and the person receiving it.
4. Enter the consideration. Write the amount paid, or note that it is a gift given for love and affection if no money changes hands.
5. Add the legal description. Copy the legal description and parcel number exactly from the current deed or a title document. The street address alone is not enough.
6. Sign before a notary. The grantor signs, usually in front of a notary, who completes the acknowledgement. Add the signature with the sign a PDF tool.
7. Record the deed. Download a clean PDF with no watermark, then file it with your local recording office so the transfer is on public record. Fees and requirements vary by location.

The legal description matters most

The single most important part of a quitclaim deed is the legal description of the property, and it is the part people most often get wrong. A legal description is not the mailing address. It is the formal description used in land records, such as a lot and block number, a metes-and-bounds description, or a parcel identifier assigned by the local authority. Copy it exactly from the most recent deed or a current title document, character for character, because an error can make the transfer defective or cloud the title. If you cannot find the legal description, the recording office or a title company can help you locate it before you complete the form.

Quitclaim versus warranty deed

The difference between a quitclaim and a warranty deed comes down to promises. A warranty deed guarantees that the grantor owns the property free and clear and will defend the grantee against other claims, which is why it is standard in a normal sale. A quitclaim makes no such promise. It transfers only whatever interest the grantor happens to have, with no guarantee that the interest is good or that the title is clean. That makes a quitclaim quick and simple for transfers between people who trust each other, but risky for a buyer paying real money to a stranger. If you are on the receiving end and want protection, a warranty deed, along with title insurance, is usually the safer route.

Recording the deed

Signing a quitclaim deed transfers the interest between the two parties, but recording it is what protects the grantee against later claims and puts the transfer on public record. After signing, usually before a notary, take or send the deed to the local recording office, sometimes called the county recorder, land registry, or registry of deeds. There is normally a fee, and some places charge a transfer tax based on the value, though family transfers and gifts may be exempt. Because rules and forms differ by location, call ahead or check the office's website to confirm what they need, so your deed is not rejected. Once recorded, keep the returned copy with your property records.

Costs and taxes to expect

A quitclaim deed is inexpensive to prepare, but a few costs can come with recording it. Most recording offices charge a filing fee, often modest, to enter the deed in the public record. Some places also charge a transfer tax based on the property's value when ownership changes hands, though transfers between spouses, gifts to family, and moves into your own trust are frequently exempt. There may be a small notary fee as well. It is worth asking the recording office about fees and any transfer tax before you file, so there are no surprises, and worth checking whether a gift or family transfer qualifies for an exemption. Keep in mind that giving property away can also have income or estate tax effects down the line, so for a valuable transfer, a quick word with a tax professional is money well spent.

Before you sign and record

• Copy the legal description exactly. Pull it from the current deed, not from memory or the mailing address.
• Use full legal names. Match the names to how they appear on the current title.
• Confirm notarization rules. Most deeds must be signed before a notary to be recorded.
• Check recording requirements. Fees, forms, and any transfer tax vary by location, so confirm before filing.
• Understand the limits. A quitclaim gives no title guarantee, so use it only where you trust the other party.

When your deed is ready, open the fill tool, complete it, and download a clean PDF you can sign, notarize, and record. Because everything runs in your browser, a document with private property details stays on your own device. This is general information, not legal advice, so have a professional review anything complex.