Quitclaim Deed

In depth

A quitclaim deed conveys only what the grantor actually owns, which could be everything, something, or nothing. It contains no covenants and offers no recourse to the grantee if title is defective. Misconception: a quitclaim does not say the grantor owns nothing; it just makes no promises. Practically, quitclaims are used between family members, to clear clouds on title, in divorce settlements, and to add or remove a spouse from title. They should rarely be used in arm's-length sales because the buyer has no remedy if title fails. In owner-finance transactions, beware of a seller offering only a quitclaim at payoff; require a warranty deed in the original contract. Title insurance based on a quitclaim is generally unavailable or limited.