How to Prepare a Quitclaim Deed

Transfer title to your home or property.

A quit claim deed is a legal document that transfers title to property. Most commonly, the quit claim deed is used to convey title to real estate. However, the deed can also be used to convey title to other property, like water rights or personal property. The main benefit of the quit claim deed is that it is quick and easy.

Things You'll Need

• Form of quit claim deed
• Legal property description
• Public notary

Instructions

Prepare a Quit Claim Deed

1. Locate a form of quit claim deed. You can find a good form from an office supply store, an online retailer, an attorney or from your local county recorder's office.

2. Have the current owner of the property fill in and sign his name everywhere that the form indicates the "Grantor."

3. Fill in the new owner's name everywhere that the form indicates the "Grantee." Unlike the Grantor, the grantee does not need to sign the deed.

4. Have a public notary witness and acknowledge the grantor's signature on the deed form.

5. Attach a copy of the legal property description to the deed.

6. Take the signed, acknowledged quit claim deed to the county recorder's office and pay a small fee to have the deed recorded. This step is only necessary if you are transferring real estate.

Tips & Warnings

• A simple Internet search will turn up samples of quit claim deeds, but if you want something more professional and reliable, you have a few simple options. Most office supply stores sell generic quit claim deeds that you can fill out. You can also purchase a form from an online retailer such as legalzoom.com or uslegalforms.com. Finally, most county recorder's offices now have a website where you can search for recorded documents and, for a small fee, print the documents.

• Accepting a quit claim deed comes with risks. A quit claim deed means the former owner makes no warranty or guarantee regarding the condition of the title. If you are purchasing property from somebody else, you should ask for a warranty deed, not a quit claim deed.

References

• "Land Transactions and Finance"; Grant S. Nelson and Dale A. Whitman; 2004.

Resources

• Legal Zoom
• US Legal Forms