Quitclaim Deed Help

Option 1: Do It Yourself

Many property owners prepare their own quitclaim deeds using legal form software or deed preparation guides.

This option is often attractive because it is usually the lowest-cost approach and gives you the most control over the process.

Just keep in mind that you're responsible for reviewing your state's requirements, county recording procedures, and any additional forms that may be required.

Not sure what a completed deed looks like? See our filled-out quitclaim deed example for a plain-English walkthrough.

Option 2: Document Preparation Service

Some property owners would rather have someone prepare the deed paperwork for them instead of filling out the forms themselves.

This option can save time and help you avoid paperwork mistakes, especially when extra forms or recording requirements are involved.

You still provide the information needed for the deed, but the actual preparation work is handled by the service provider.

Option 3: Professional Legal Assistance

Many quitclaim deed situations are manageable on your own. But some situations are genuinely more complicated than a typical property transfer, and that is when it is worth bringing in a professional.

A few examples where legal help is often worth it:

• Ownership disputes
• Probate issues
• Business entity ownership transfers
• Title defects
• Boundary disputes
• Litigation involving the property
• Complex estate planning situations

If any of these sound like your situation, it is worth talking to a lawyer before preparing or recording a deed.

Once It’s Prepared: Signing With an Online Notary

Most quitclaim deeds need to be signed in front of a notary public before they can be recorded.

Finding a notary and fitting the visit into business hours is not always easy.

Remote online notarization may let you complete this step from home, using your computer, tablet, or smartphone. It is not available everywhere, so it is worth checking your state and county before you rely on it.

Which Option Is Right for You?

It depends on the transfer, not on the form.

Many simple transfers, such as adding a spouse or moving a house into your own revocable living trust, are handled without a lawyer. Adding a child to a deed, an irrevocable trust, or a transfer while a divorce or a mortgage is still being sorted out is different, and worth a lawyer’s view first.

Ownership that is disputed, tied up in an estate, or held by a business is where professional help earns its fee.

Pick the option that matches how complicated your transfer is and how comfortable you are handling the paperwork, the signing and the recording yourself.

Why Are There So Many Different Requirements?

Quitclaim deeds look simple at first, but each state has its own signing, notarization, transfer tax, and recording rules.

For example, some states require transfer declaration forms, sales validation questionnaires, preliminary change of ownership reports, or other recording-related documents you might not expect.

The state pages on this site cover those rules one state at a time, with supplemental pages for the extra forms.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I prepare my own quitclaim deed?

Yes. Many owners do, using form software or a template. Whether it is a good idea depends on how complicated the transfer is and how comfortable you are with legal paperwork.

What is a document preparation service?

A service that prepares the deed for you from the information you give it: the names, the legal description, and how title will be held. You still sign, notarize and record it.

Can I notarize a quitclaim deed online?

In most states, yes, but not all, and some recording offices have their own rules about remotely notarized deeds. Check your state's status and ask the recorder before you rely on it.

When should I consider legal assistance?

When the ownership is disputed, the property is in an estate, a business entity is on the title, the title has a defect, or the property is in litigation.

Which option is the least expensive?

Doing it yourself. A form costs the least, a preparation service costs more, and a lawyer usually costs the most. The recording fee and any transfer tax are the same whichever you choose.

Continue Learning

Not sure where to start?

Visit your state-specific quitclaim deed instructions page for step-by-step guidance, recording information, and state-specific requirements.

Browse State Quitclaim Deed Instructions