What is a characteristic of a quitclaim deed?

A quitclaim deed is a legal instrument used to transfer interest in real property, and its defining characteristic is that it conveys whatever title the grantor has, without any warranties or guarantees regarding the quality of the title. This means that the grantor does not make any promises about their ownership—whether it is full, clear, or potentially clouded by defects. The grantee receives whatever interest the grantor holds at the time of the conveyance, but they assume the risk associated with that title, which may include various claims by third parties.

This lack of warranties is significant in real estate transactions, particularly when comparing quitclaim deeds to other types of deeds, such as warranty deeds, which do offer assurances regarding the title's validity. The primarily informal nature of quitclaim deeds makes them suitable for certain situations, such as transferring property between family members or resolving title issues, rather than for transactions involving arms-length buyers or sellers who desire protections against prior claims.