What is a quitclaim deed?

A quitclaim deed is specifically defined as a legal document that transfers whatever interest the grantor has in the property to the grantee, without providing any warranties or guarantees regarding the title. This means that the grantor is not assuring the grantee that the title is clear or that any interest conveyed is valid—essentially, the grantor could have any number of issues with the title, and the grantee must accept that risk.

This type of deed is often used in situations where the parties know each other well, such as transfers among family members or in divorces, where one spouse may quitclaim their interest in a property to the other. The lack of warranties in a quitclaim deed differentiates it from other types of deeds, such as warranty deeds, which do guarantee a clear title and the grantor’s right to transfer the property.

The other options do not accurately describe a quitclaim deed. A deed that guarantees clear title describes a warranty deed, while a form of lease agreement refers to rental contracts, and a legal document to register property in court does not align with the specific function of a quitclaim deed. Thus, the defining characteristic of a quitclaim deed—its transfer of interest without warranties—is the reason why that option is