Maryland Quitclaim Deed
A Maryland (MD) quitclaim deed provides a tool that a property’s owner can use to transfer real interest in a property to another party. With a quitclaim deed, the property’s owner (grantor) does not offer any guarantee to their ownership or the state of the title to the buyer (grantee).
If a buyer and seller want the property to have a warranty on the title, they need to use a warranty deed. A Maryland quitclaim deed works best in cases where the two parties know each other well, such as when transferring property between family members or into a trust for estate planning needs.
“Quit claims deed,” “quick claim deed,” and “quit claim deed” are all incorrect terms for a quitclaim deed in Maryland.
Important Laws & Requirements
- Laws: Maryland Code, Real Property, § 3-104
- Signing: Per § 3-104, a Maryland quitclaim deed must be signed either before a notary public or before an officer of the court, with the appropriate notarization.
- Documents: To submit the quitclaim deed to the Clerk of the Circuit Court, you must have a Land Intake Sheet with the deed.
- Filing: Quitclaim deeds in Maryland are filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the property is located. Each county has its own filing fee.
How to Write & File a Quitclaim Deed in Maryland
Step 1: Download the appropriate quitclaim deed form.
Step 2: Under “Prepared by,” enter the name of the person who fills out the form. Then, enter their address.
Step 3: Under “After recording return to” enter the name of the person where the paperwork goes after the County Clerk finishes recording and reviewing it. This is usually the grantee, but may be someone else depending on the terms.
Step 4: Enter the county where the property is located.
Step 5: After “in the sum of” add the amount paid for the property. First, write out the words, then add the numeric value in the parenthesis after the words.
Step 6: Enter the grantor’s information. This includes the full name, home address, and county. The order is important. First, the mailing address, then the county, then the city, and finally the state.
Step 7: Enter the grantee’s information after “hereby convey and forever quitclaim to.” This includes the full name, home address, and county. Use the same order used for the grantor.
Step 8: Record the property’s county again. Then, record the legal description of the property. This includes its address, plot number, and a full description of the property. Find the description on the property deed. You can add a second document as an attachment if needed.
Step 9: In the section “Preparer’s Certification,” the person who prepared the document must enter their status and a signature. If the preparer is an attorney, then they must place their Bar number. If the party is not an attorney, then they will declare their status, which is either grantor, grantee, or party secured. Party secured is used if a neutral third party who is not an attorney prepares the document. After signing, the preparer must also print their name.
Step 10: The grantor needs to sign the document in the presence of a notary or representative of the court. The witness must also fill in the area for witnessing the document.
Step 11: Prepare the Land Intake Sheet to accompany the Maryland quitclaim deed.
Step 12: Submit the completed, signed document with the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county where the property is located, along with any appropriate filing fees.
