Quit Claim Deed Forms - Quitclaim Deed

If you need a quit claim deed form, USLegalforms has top quality property deed sample forms at affordable prices. Our quit claim deed sample is drafted according to the law in your state, unlike other online forms that are actually generic forms titled for each state. Each property deed sample is also regularly reviewed by attorneys for compliance with the latest legal changes. Whether you need a deed transfer for a house sale, tax deed sale, property auction sale, transfer to trust, divorce property settlement, commercial real estate listing, or any other need, we have the forms professionals trust.

How to Use a Quit Claim Deed Form Quit Claim Deeds

A quit claim deed sample form is one of the most popularly used documents to transfer a property title. You will also see it referred to as a quitclaim deed form template, or mistakenly called quick claim deed. In a real estate sale, a quit claim deed form is used to put the new owner on record as the titled owner by filing it in the property records of the county land recorder’s office. The current owners are called the grantors and the new owners are called the grantees.

Quit Claim Deed vs. Warranty Deed Quit Claim

  • This essential legal form is simply used to transfer property into the name of the new owner. Quit claim deeds make no guarantees of clear title the way a warranty deed does. There may be debts or liens attached to the property, defects in the title, restrictions on its use, or other circumstances that negatively affect the property’s value. Therefore, this type of property deed sample is often used in situations where claims on the property title aren’t an issue, such as:

    • Transferring real estate property into a trust
    • Putting a spouse’s name on the deed as part of a property settlement in a divorce
    • Adding a new spouse’s name on the title to a newlywed’s house deed
    • Changing the form of joint ownership, such as converting tenants in common to joint tenants with right of survivorship, or creating a life estate
    • Transferring property between family members
    • Conveying title in a real estate sale or property auction resulting from a tax lien for property tax owed

    How to Fill Out a Quit Claim Deed Form Template Remove Spouse From Deed

  • You will need some basic information to complete the form:

    1. The name and address information of the buyer(s)/grantee(s) and seller(s)/grantor(s).
    2. The county name where the deed will be signed.
    3. The volume, page, and document number in the land records of the county recorder’s office where the previous deed was filed. If it’s not found on the original deed or property sale papers, you can get this information from the county land recorder.
    4. The property’s parcel number, street address, and legal description. You can locate the legal description on the original deed, mortgage papers, or call the county land recorder’s office.
    5. The form of ownership if the property is transferred to more than one grantee. Joint owners can own real estate as tenants in common, tenants by the entirety, joint tenants with rights of survivorship, or community property.

    • Tenants in common – This form of ownership allows separate management of the share of property owned by each owner/tenant. There is no right of survivorship, so if one owner dies without a will, his or her share will pass according to the state’s laws of intestacy. Each tenant can dispose of his or her separate interest in the property in any manner. Each owner can sell, will, assign, or otherwise transfer his or her share without the consent or signature of the other owner(s).
    • Joint tenants – Each owner/tenant has an undivided, equal share of the property. The consent and signature of the other tenant(s) is required to transfer any share in the property, and all tenants are jointly responsible for maintaining and repairing the property. A right of survivorship exists, so that when a tenant dies, his or her share transfers automatically outside of the probate process to the remaining tenant(s).
    • Tenants by the entirety - A joint tenancy between spouses is sometimes called a tenancy by the entirety. Tenancy by the entirety differs from other joint tenancies, due to the inability of one joint tenant to sever the ownership and differences in tax treatment. In some areas, to create a tenancy by the entirety, the deed must specify that the property is being transferred to the couple "as tenants by the entirety". In other jurisdictions, a transfer to a married couple is presumed to create a tenancy by the entirety, unless the deed specifies otherwise.
    • Community property – Some estates, like California, allow real property to be held by a married couple as community property with a right of survivorship. This is similar to being joint tenants because the property will automatically transfer to the surviving spouse outside of probate when the first spouse dies. However, it has a tax advantage by allowing 100% of the property to receive a stepped up basis to fair market value at he time of death, rather than just 50% being stepped up if held as joint tenants.

  • Once the deed is completed, the grantor(s) and grantee(s) must sign it in front of a notary public so it can be acknowledged. The acknowledged deed must then be filed in the records of the land recorders office of the county where the property is located. You may call the local office to inquire about applicable taxes, filing fees, and transfer fees.

    • Tips for Preparing Quit Claim Deed Forms

    Despite the popularity and daily use of Quit Claim Deed Forms, not all of them are signed because of mistakes. Think about reducing the risk of rejecting your records in order to save more time for performing more important tasks. Follow the tips below to learn more about deeds and prepare papers faster:

    1. Pick the proper template. Using a professionally-drafted draft is already half the battle. Firstly, choose the state you live in to stay compliant with your local rules. Then, go through various types of deeds, explore helpful notices, and find the one that matches your case in our comprehensive library.
    2. Collect all the required details. Most samples ask for information about a grantor, a grantee, a description of a document's subject matter, and a tax ID. However, some states want you to provide extra details in deeds like parties' addresses and marital statuses. Think about collecting it before preparing records.
    3. Indicate the subject. Write comprehensive information about the item of the deal. Indicate its location and condition, and other important information that will help to identify it evidently.
    4. Double-check abilities. Make certain a grantor has proper rights to grant, and a grantee is able to get them. Otherwise, your Quit Claim Deed Forms record will lose its credibility.
    5. Sign a sample. Deeds don't become legal until they are certified. If you have a Premium subscription on our platform, make use of the US Legal Forms connection with signNow eSignature to eSign a prepared warranty or quitclaim deed online without the need for leaving your house or office.