Quitclaim Deeds and Transferring Property in District of Columbia
How to sign and record a quitclaim or other deed in District of Columbia, and whether you can use a transfer-on-death deed to avoid probate.
Short answer: A deed must be executed, acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer, and certified as D.C. law requires, then delivered to the grantee. To protect against creditors and later buyers, it must be recorded with the D.C. D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103
| Signing and recording a deed | A deed must be executed, acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer, and certified as D.C. law requires, then delivered to the grantee. To protect against creditors and later buyers, it must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds. Each deed must be filed with a recordation tax return signed by all parties; the recordation tax on a deed is generally 1.1% of the consideration or fair market value, plus an additional 0.35% for most deeds except residential transfers under $400,000. A separate D.C. deed transfer tax also applies to many transfers; some transfers are exempt. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: D.C. Code §§ 42-401, 42-1103 |
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| Transfer-on-death deed | Yes. An owner with the capacity needed to make a will may sign a transfer on death deed. It must have the elements and formalities of a recordable deed, state that the transfer happens at the owner's death, and be recorded with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds before the owner dies. Re-verified 2026-10-27. |
Free District of Columbia quitclaim deed template — fill in and print
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FAQ
What does a quitclaim deed need to be valid in District of Columbia?
A deed must be executed, acknowledged before a notary or other authorized officer, and certified as D.C. law requires, then delivered to the grantee. To protect against creditors and later buyers, it must be recorded with the D.C. Recorder of Deeds. Each deed must be filed with a recordation tax return signed by all parties; the recordation tax on a deed is generally 1.1% of the consideration or fair market value, plus an additional 0.35% for most deeds except residential transfers under $400,000.
Does District of Columbia allow transfer-on-death deeds?
Yes. An owner with the capacity needed to make a will may sign a transfer on death deed. It must have the elements and formalities of a recordable deed, state that the transfer happens at the owner's death, and be recorded with the Office of the Recorder of Deeds before the owner dies.
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.