How to Do a Quitclaim Deed

A quitclaim deed will remove someone from or add someone to the title to your home or other property. A common occurrence of this would be two people who are married to each other and one spouse gives up any interest in the property in question that the other spouse owns.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Contracts
• Legal Counsellors
• Notary Services
• Quitclaim Deeds
• Paper And Pencils
• Writing Pens
• Contracts

1. Visit your public library's business reference section. It likely will offer books explaining quitclaim deeds in your state.

2. Consider buying a book that explains quitclaim deeds and other legal documents and that contains blank forms. If the book contains a sample quitclaim deed, review it, making sure you can get the information that appears in the sample.

3. Obtain the required information, such as a legal description of the property.

4. Buy a blank quitclaim deed form at an office-supply store or bookstore.

5. Fill out the blank form. Make sure your writing is legible. Avoid spelling errors and factual errors. Erroneous data can invalidate a deed.

6. Add someone to the title by listing the person as a grantee. Remember to list the names of all current owners as grantees as well, unless you are planning to remove them from the title.

7. Remove someone from the title by omitting the person's name from the list of grantees.

8. List all current owners of the property as grantors.

9. Arrange to meet the grantors at the office of a notary public, where you will obtain the signatures of the grantors. The notary public must witness the signing.

10. Have the document notarized and make photocopies for your files.

11. Go to your county's clerk and recorder's office and record the deed. There will be a small charge for recording the quitclaim deed.

Tips & Warnings

• Most banks provide notary-public services.
• A quitclaim deed is not a guarantee that the seller of the property has clear title. The buyer should do a title search to ensure there are no problems with the title.
• If you aren't sure you have done the form correctly, ask a real-estate lawyer to review it for you.

[chrst2dn]

on 6/3/2009 My parents purchased a peice of property from some relatives. They paid 5,000 dollars for the property. They have an escrowe agreement,but the sellers passed away before they got a title to the property. My parents have paid the taxes for over thirty years,but because they have no clear title to the property, every time they try to use it as collateral, they are told they dont own the property. There is no way to have the sellers sign the quit claim deed. I would like to know what legal steps I need to take to get the property in their name. Any help would be appreciated. Thank You

[barney100]

on 3/23/2009 I have a property in NJ where I want to remove a person from the deed but he cannot be found anywhere. How do I remove him without his signature on a quitclaim deed as I am trying to sell the property to someone else. Please Help!!!!

[layed]

on 1/7/2009 I live in illinois and want to file a quitclaim deed. Does the deed have to be typed are there any other documents that go along with the deed?

[bncent]

on 2/23/2008 In our situation my husband purchased the property with his grandparents 6 years ago (prior to our marriage). Grandpa has since passed.
We want to file a Quit Claim Deed to remove grandma from the Deed as well as add me.
2 questions:
1) Can grandpa be removed at the same time with a copy of his death certificate (grandma was the sole heir to his estate)
2) Do we also need to take grandma off the loan? We are happy with the mortgage & don't want/need to re-finance unless absolutely necessary.

[cocolegal]

on 11/9/2007 You do not need an attorney to file a quit claim deed; however, you may want to use one to ensure that your rights are protected and that the deed is adequate.