Adding names to a property deed can be achieved by completing and submitting a quit claim deed. A quit claim deed legally transfers the ownership of property to another individual. The person who is giving away the property is called the grantor, and the individual who is accepting the property is called the grantee. The grantor may remain on the property deed, but the terms of ownership, warranties and liens on the property are not guaranteed or defined on a quit claim deed.
Hire an attorney to prepare a quit claim deed. Complete the form and have both the grantor and grantee sign it. Download a free quit claim deed at RocketLawyer.com if you do not want to hire a layer. Register with the website and create a free quit claim deed.
Take the completed quit claim deed to a notary public. Have the grantor and grantee sign the quit claim deed in front of the notary. Provide personal picture identification and the original property deed for the notary public to examine.
Ask a witness to sign the quit deed claim if your state requires you to do so. According to MortgageFit.com, a few states, including Arkansas, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio, South Carolina and Vermont, require the deed to be signed by witnesses other than the notary public to make the quit claim valid.
Send the deed to the land records office in the county where your property is. As MortgageFit.com states, this government office is often called a County Recorder's Office, a County Clerk's Office, a Register of Deeds, or a Land Registry Office depending upon the state where you own the property. The land records office will legally and officially record the quit claim deed.
Tips
The words transferor and transferee are often used in place of grantor and grantee on legal forms. The two sets of words have the same meaning.
Warnings
Avoid using a quit claim deed if the grantee is not a spouse or family member. Transferring property titles to friends is not a recommended practice.
References
- Quit Claim Deed: Document transferring property-interest
- Quit Claim Deed Form
- Free Quit Claim Deed
- Superior Court of California, County of Alameda. "What Are the Advantages of a Living Trust?" Accessed May 15, 2020.
- AARP. "Transfer on Death Deed (TODD)," Page 1. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Alaska Court System. "Transfer on Death Deed - What Does the Transfer on Death (TOD) Deed Do?" Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Alaska Court System. "Transfer on Death Deed - Do I Have to File the TOD Deed in Court?" Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Alaska Court System. "Transfer on Death Deed - How Do I Revoke the TOD Deed After It Is Recorded?" Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Internal Revenue Service. "Estate and Gift Taxes." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- FindLaw. "Transfer on Death Tax Implications." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Alaska Court System. "Transfer on Death Deed." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Arizona State Legislature. "33-405. Beneficiary Deeds; Recording; Definitions." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- FindLaw. "Arkansas Code Title 18. Property § 18-12-608. Beneficiary Deeds--Terms--Recording Required." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Sacramento County Public Law Library & Civil Self Help Center. "Transfer on Death (TOD) Deeds," Page 1. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Colorado General Assembly. "Probate, Trusts, and Fiduciaries," Pages 1-2. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- District of Colombia, Office of Tax and Revenue. "Revocable Transfer-on-Death Deed," Pages 1-3. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Hawaii State Legislature. "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Illinois General Assembly. "(755 ILCS 27/) Illinois Residential Real Property Transfer on Death Instrument Act." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- FindLaw. "Indiana Code Title 32. Property § 32-17-14-11." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Kansas Legislative Sessions. "Article 35 - Transfer-on-Death." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Minnesota Legislature, Office of the Revisor of Statutes. "507.071 Transfer on Death Deeds." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Missouri Revisor of Statutes. "461.025. Deeds Effective on Death of Owner — Recording, Effect." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Montana Code Annotated 2019. "72-6-415. Optional Form of Transfer on Death Deed." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Nebraska Legislature. "Nebraska Revised Statute 76-3402." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Nevada Legislature. "NRS 111.771 Property Held in Beneficiary Form; Registration in Beneficiary Form; Transfer-on-Death Directions." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- State Bar of New Mexico. "Transfer on Death Deed," Pages 1-2. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- North Dakota Legislative Branch. "Chapter 30.1-32.1 Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act," Pages 1-3. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Ohio Laws and Rules. "5302.23 Designating Transfer on Death Beneficiary." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Oklahoma Tax Commission. "'Non-Testamentary Transfer–on-Death-Deed’. Title 58, §1251-§1258. Eff. Nov. 1, 2008," Pages 1-7. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Oregon State Legislature. "Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- South Dakota Legislature. "Part 4. Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act - 29A-6-403." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Texas Constitution and Statutes. "Texas Real Property Transfer on Death Act." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Virginia General Assembly. "§ 64.2-635. Optional Form of Transfer on Death Deed." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Washington State Legislature. "Chapter 64.80 RCW Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- West Virginia Legislature. "Chapter 36. Estates and Property." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Wisconsin State Legislature. "705.15 Nonprobate Transfer of Real Property on Death." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- State of Wyoming Legislature. "HB0201 - Transfer on Death Deed." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Gibbs Law Office. "Using a Lady Bird Deed in Florida [Overview, Pros and Cons]." Accessed May 15, 2020.
- State Bar of Michigan. "Ladybird Deed," Pages 31-32. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Sacramento County Public Law Library & Civil Self Help Center. "Transfer on Death (TOD) Deeds," Page 3. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Sacramento County Public Law Library & Civil Self Help Center. "Transfer on Death (TOD) Deeds," Page 5. Accessed May 15, 2020.
- Sacramento County Public Law Library & Civil Self Help Center. "Transfer on Death (TOD) Deeds," Page 4. Accessed May 15, 2020.
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As curriculum developer and educator, Kristine Tucker has enjoyed the plethora of English assignments she's read (and graded!) over the years. Her experiences as vice-president of an energy consulting firm have given her the opportunity to explore business writing and HR. Tucker has a BA and holds Ohio teaching credentials.