Quitclaim Deed in California

A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest you have in real estate, with no promise that the title is good. Before you record it, check your state's signing rules below and your county recorder's formatting rules (margins, paper size, preparer and return-address blocks, transfer-tax forms) — recorders reject deeds that miss them.

What California law says

Signing and recording a deed	A deed must be in writing and signed by the owner (or an agent authorized in writing). To be recorded, a grant deed or quitclaim deed must be acknowledged before a notary; proof by a subscribing witness is not allowed for deeds. Deeds are recorded with the county recorder. Counties (and some cities) may charge a documentary transfer tax (county rate $0.55 per $500 of value when consideration exceeds $100), and the new owner generally must file a change in ownership statement (Preliminary Change of Ownership Report) with the county recorder or assessor. City transfer tax rates vary. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1091; Cal. Gov. Code § 27287; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 480, 11911
Transfer-on-death deed	Yes. A revocable transfer on death deed can pass residential property to named beneficiaries at death. It must be signed and dated by the owner, signed by two witnesses who were present at the same time, notarized, and recorded with the county recorder within 60 days after it was notarized. It does not need to be delivered to or accepted by the beneficiary during the owner's life. The law sets out the form to use (Prob. Code § 5642). The current TOD deed law is scheduled to expire January 1, 2032 unless extended; deeds signed before then remain valid. Re-verified 2026-10-27. Source: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 5600, 5624, 5626, 5642

Signing and recording a deed

A deed must be in writing and signed by the owner (or an agent authorized in writing). To be recorded, a grant deed or quitclaim deed must be acknowledged before a notary; proof by a subscribing witness is not allowed for deeds. Deeds are recorded with the county recorder. Counties (and some cities) may charge a documentary transfer tax (county rate $0.55 per $500 of value when consideration exceeds $100), and the new owner generally must file a change in ownership statement (Preliminary Change of Ownership Report) with the county recorder or assessor.

City transfer tax rates vary. Re-verified 2026-10-27.

Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1091; Cal. Gov. Code § 27287; Cal. Rev. & Tax. Code §§ 480, 11911

Transfer-on-death deed

Yes. A revocable transfer on death deed can pass residential property to named beneficiaries at death. It must be signed and dated by the owner, signed by two witnesses who were present at the same time, notarized, and recorded with the county recorder within 60 days after it was notarized. It does not need to be delivered to or accepted by the beneficiary during the owner's life. The law sets out the form to use (Prob. Code § 5642).

The current TOD deed law is scheduled to expire January 1, 2032 unless extended; deeds signed before then remain valid. Re-verified 2026-10-27.

Source: Cal. Prob. Code §§ 5600, 5624, 5626, 5642

Fill it in

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Recording requested by and return to: [name and mailing address]

QUITCLAIM DEED

For [consideration, e.g. $10 or 'no consideration — gift'], [grantor name(s)], of [grantor address] ("Grantor"), quitclaims to [grantee name(s)], of [grantee address] ("Grantee"), [how grantees take title, e.g. as joint tenants with right of survivorship], all of Grantor's interest in the following real property in [county] County, [state]:

Legal description: [full legal description copied from the current deed]

Commonly known as: [street address] Parcel / tax ID: [parcel number]

Signed on [date signed]. Grantor signature(s): ____________________

[Acknowledgment before a notary public, in the form your state requires, and any witness signatures your state requires]

Send tax statements to: [name and address for tax bills]

Quitclaim Deed for other states · California tenant rights

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.