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Quitclaim Deed

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CALIFORNIA QUITCLAIM DEED

Recording requested by:

And, when recorded, mail this deed and tax statements to:

Name:

City, State & Zip:

Phone:

TRA:

APN:

QUITCLAIM DEED
(Three Individuals to Two Individuals as Tenants in Common)

This transfer is exempt from the documentary transfer tax based on:

The documentary transfer tax is $

City Tax, if any: $

County Tax, if any: $

and is computed on:

the full value of the property conveyed.

the full value less the liens and encumbrances remaining thereon at the time of sale

The property is located in an unincorporated area the city of

KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS THAT:

For valuable consideration, receipt of which is acknowledged, , AND hereby remise, release and forever quitclaim to and as Tenants in Common, the following described real property located in the City of , County of , California:

See Legal Description Attached as Exhibit A incorporated by reference as though set forth in full

Legal Description:

Dated this day of

Signature

Type or Print Name

Signature

Type or Print Name

Signature

Type or Print Name

State of California

County of

On before me, , personally appeared

who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument. I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature

(Seal)

State of California

County of

On before me, , personally appeared

who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument. I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature

(Seal)

State of California

County of

On before me, , personally appeared

who proved to me on the basis of satisfactory evidence to be the person whose name is subscribed to the within instrument and acknowledged to me that he executed the same in his authorized capacity, and that by his signature on the instrument the person, or the entity upon behalf of which the person acted, executed the instrument. I certify under PENALTY OF PERJURY under the laws of the State of California that the foregoing paragraph is true and correct.

WITNESS my hand and official seal.

Signature

(Seal)

Grantor(s) Name, Address and phone:

Grantee(s) Name, Address and Phone:

EXHIBIT A

Grantor:

Grantee:

Legal Description:

Enter text

What a Quitclaim Deed Is and when it’s used

A Quitclaim Deed is a real estate instrument that transfers whatever interest the grantor holds in a property to the grantee without warranties or guarantees about title. It conveys the grantor’s current ownership interest, if any, rather than promising clear title. Quitclaim deeds are commonly used for intra-family transfers, divorce settlements, estate administration, and to clear title issues; they are not typically used in standard market sales because they provide no protection against prior liens or title defects. Most jurisdictions require notarization and recording to affect public notice.

Why people choose a Quitclaim Deed

Quitclaim deeds are fast, simple, and inexpensive tools to transfer or clarify ownership interest without a lengthy warranty process. They are appropriate when parties know the title condition and accept the risk of no warranties.

Why people choose a Quitclaim Deed

Typical users and professionals involved

The Quitclaim Deed is most often used by private individuals and advisors for non-sale transfers where speed and simplicity matter.

  • Homeowners transferring property between family members or to a trust for estate planning
  • Divorcing parties changing title after settlement or property division
  • Attorneys, title companies, and settlement agents preparing or recording the deed

Step-by-step: completing a Quitclaim Deed

Follow these steps in order to prepare, sign, notarize, and record a Quitclaim Deed correctly.

  • 01
    Prepare: Enter grantor/grantee names and the legal property description.
  • 02
    Sign: Grantor signs in presence of notary or RON provider when allowed.
  • 03
    Notarize: Obtain notary acknowledgement or remote notary session per state rules.
  • 04
    Record: File the deed at county recorder; pay recording fees.

How to configure an online signing workflow

Set up a digital workflow that matches state notary and recording needs, and preserves a clear audit trail for later title searches.

Field Configuration
Document upload PDF or DOCX upload; include any attachments or exhibits.
Signer order Grantor signs first; notary or witness follows in-person or via RON.
Authentication Use email+SMS or stronger KBA where state or lender requires it.
Notary / RON Enable remote notarization only if the state permits and recorder accepts RON-recorded documents.

Typical online completion flow

An efficient online flow minimizes errors and preserves evidence of intent, attribution, and consent required for enforceability under U.S. law.

  • Upload: Sender uploads deed and supporting documents.
  • Place fields: Add signature, date, and notary acknowledgement fields.
  • Authenticate: Signers verify identity using chosen authentication.
  • Finalize: Signed deed and audit trail are saved for recording and title work.

Technical considerations for eSigning and eNotarization

Confirm the platform supports required file formats, authentication strength, and notarization modes accepted by your recorder.

  • File formats: PDF and DOCX supported
  • Integrations: CRM and storage connectors available
  • Authentication: Email, SMS, KBA, and SSO options

Essential parts of a professional Quitclaim Deed

A complete Quitclaim Deed follows a standard structure to ensure the recorder accepts it and the instrument affects title as intended.

Grantor and grantee

Clear, full legal names of parties; include entity type and capacities (e.g., trustee) to avoid ambiguity in title records and downstream transfers.

Legal description

Accurate metes-and-bounds or lot/block description copied from the last recorded deed; street addresses alone are insufficient for recording.

Consideration statement

Concise clause stating consideration amount or nominal phrasing; plays a role in transfer tax and tax basis determinations.

Conveyance language

Phrase that conveys the grantor’s interest (for example, 'does hereby remise, release and quitclaim unto') to clearly show intent.

Notary acknowledgement

State-specific notary block or RON acknowledgement formatted to recorder standards; essential for acceptance and indexing.

Recording block

Recorder’s return and space for instrument number; include instructions for county recorder and payment details if required.

Data and security features to preserve evidentiary integrity

Encryption in transit: TLS 1.2 / 1.3
Encryption at rest: AES-256
Certifications: ISO 27001; SOC 2 Type II
Audit trail: Timestamps, IP, and action log
HIPAA support: BAA available when required
E-signature law: ESIGN and UETA compliant

Common risks and legal consequences

Unrecorded deed: May not provide public notice
Name mismatch: Recorder rejection or title gap
Improper notarization: Invalid acknowledgement
Fraudulent transfer: Civil liability, possible criminal exposure
No title warranty: Grantee assumes title risk
Outstanding liens: Deed does not remove existing liens

Frequent preparation and recording errors to avoid

  • Using a street address in place of the official legal description causes many rejections at county recorders and creates ambiguity for title searches.
  • Failing to match the grantor name to recorded title (married name, maiden name, or corporate name) can prevent effective transfer and require corrective deeds.
  • Not confirming witness requirements or acceptable notary formats for the recording county may invalidate the acknowledgement.
  • Assuming a Quitclaim Deed clears liens; it transfers interest but does not satisfy mortgages, judgments, or tax liens without separate releases.

Timing and expectations for signing and recording

There is no federal deadline for recording a deed, but prompt recording is essential to establish priority and public notice; county processing times vary.

Record promptly:

File the deed immediately to protect priority; delays risk subsequent encumbrances.

County processing:

Turnaround varies from same-day to several weeks by county.

Notary retention:

RON recordings often retained 5–10 years per state RON rules.

Tax reporting:

Transfer tax reporting periods vary by state and county.

Corrective deeds:

Plan extra time if a corrective or supplemental deed is needed.

Key milestones after preparing a Quitclaim Deed

After preparation, follow a clear sequence to ensure the transfer records and becomes effective as intended.

01

Document preparation

Complete names, legal description, and consideration accurately.

02

Execution and notarization

Grantor signs and notary completes acknowledgement or RON session.

03

Recording submission

Submit to county recorder with appropriate fees and forms.

04

Title update

Title companies and tax assessors update records after recording.

Notarization and witness authentication steps

Follow these steps when signing to meet notary and witness requirements for recording acceptance.

01

Confirm state rules

Verify whether RON is permitted and recorder accepts RON.

02

Identity verification

Notary or RON provider must complete ID proofing per state standards.

03

Signer presence

Grantor must appear physically or via live audio-video if RON is used.

04

Witness rules

Determine whether county/state requires one or two witnesses for deeds.

05

Notarial language

Use the exact acknowledgement wording required by the jurisdiction.

06

Recording RON media

Retain RON audio-video per state retention rules (commonly 5–10 years).

07

Deliver to recorder

Include any transfer tax forms or county cover sheets.

08

Obtain confirmation

Keep recording receipt or instrument number for title records.

eSignature pricing and feature snapshot for Quitclaim Deed workflows

Compare starting prices and core capabilities relevant for high-volume or notarized deed workflows; signNow is listed first per platform comparison standards.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor Varies by vendor
Bulk Send Yes (Premium+) Varies by tier Yes Varies by tier Varies
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies Varies Varies

Frequently asked questions about Quitclaim Deeds

Answers to common questions about validity, notarization, recording, and electronic execution of Quitclaim Deeds.


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