What is a quitclaim deed used for?

A quitclaim deed is primarily used to transfer any interest that the grantor may hold in a property, without providing any warranties or guarantees regarding that interest. This means that the grantor makes no representation about the validity of the title or whether any interest they are claiming is actually valid. The recipient of a quitclaim deed essentially steps into the shoes of the grantor but does so with the understanding that they are accepting what the grantor has to offer, which could be nothing at all.

This type of deed is often utilized in scenarios such as family transfers, simple property transfers between friends, or to clear up title issues - for example, when a person wants to relinquish their interest in a property without guaranteeing that they hold any legal title to it.

In contrast, other deeds, like warranty deeds, do provide guarantees regarding the grantor's ownership, which is not the case with a quitclaim deed. Hence, the purpose of a quitclaim deed being to transfer whatever interest the grantor may have, without warranties, makes it a straightforward way to pass on ownership, albeit without protections for the new owner.