Real Estate
Quitclaim Deed Transfer Package
Transfer whatever interest you hold in a property to someone else — with the recording requirements worksheet that decides whether the transfer actually takes effect.
Available product levels
Complete Legal Packages
$99.99Multi-document workflows for complex legal matters.
When to use this document
- Adding or removing a spouse after marriage or divorce
- Transferring property between family members
- Moving property into a trust or an entity you own
- Clearing up a defect or ambiguity in how title is held
Information you will need
- Grantor and grantee details, exactly as title should read
- The property's legal description from the existing deed
- How the grantee will hold title
- Any consideration paid
- Your county's current recording requirements, from the recorder's office
- Notary and witness requirements for your state
What you receive
- County recording requirements worksheet
- Property and parties information sheet
- Quitclaim deed
- Recording instructions
- After-recording checklist
- All five as separate PDF or DOCX files
Special situations
- A quitclaim warrants nothing. It conveys whatever interest the grantor happens to have, which may be none. Never use one to buy property from someone you do not know and trust.
- It does not remove anyone from a mortgage. Transferring title leaves the loan exactly where it was, and the person who signed the note remains liable.
- Many mortgages contain a due-on-sale clause that a transfer can trigger. Check the loan before recording anything.
- A deed generally must be recorded to protect the grantee against later claims. An unrecorded deed can leave the transfer vulnerable even where it is valid between the parties.
- Transfers can carry tax consequences — transfer tax at recording, property tax reassessment, and gift tax where consideration is nominal. These vary and are worth checking first.
- The legal description must come from the existing deed. A street address is not a legal description and recorders reject deeds that use one.
Jurisdiction
Deed form, notarisation, witness requirements, recording procedure, transfer tax, and the effect of recording are set by state and county law and vary considerably even within a state. This package reproduces no county's form and states no fee, and directs you to confirm requirements with the recorder before signing.
Frequently asked questions
Does a quitclaim deed guarantee I am getting good title?
No, and this is the central point. It transfers whatever interest the grantor has and promises nothing about what that interest is. If they own nothing, you receive nothing, and you have no claim against them for it. For a purchase, a warranty deed and title insurance are what protect you.
Will this remove my ex-spouse from the mortgage?
No. A deed changes who owns the property; it does nothing to the loan. Whoever signed the note remains liable regardless of whose name is on title. Removing someone from a mortgage requires refinancing or the lender's agreement.
Do I have to record it?
You should, in almost every case. A deed can be valid between the parties without recording, but recording is what protects the new owner against later claims and subsequent purchasers. An unrecorded deed is a risk that grows quietly.
What is a legal description and where do I find it?
The formal description identifying the parcel — lot and block, metes and bounds, or a similar form. Copy it exactly from the existing recorded deed. A street address will not do, and recorders reject deeds that use one.
Are there taxes on transferring property?
Often. Transfer tax may be due at recording, property tax may be reassessed on a change of ownership, and a transfer for nominal consideration can have gift tax implications. All of these vary by state and county and are worth confirming before you record.
Related documents and guides
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Last reviewed July 29, 2026.