What Is a Tennessee Quitclaim Deed?
When someone living in Tennessee wants to transfer ownership of a piece of property to someone else, without exploring the title, they will file a Tennessee (TN) quitclaim deed form with the Tennessee Register of Deeds. This deed works well between trusted parties because it does not provide any guarantee that the seller, known as the grantor, has the right to transfer the property.
If a buyer, known as a grantee, wants to have that type of guarantee, then they need to use the warranty deed form. The warranty deed takes longer because it requires a title search, but it guarantees the title is clean and the grantor has the legal right to sell the property. Sometimes quitclaim deeds in Tennessee are mistakenly called by the wrong name “Quick claim deed,” “quit claims deed,” or “quickclaim deed.”
Important Laws & Requirements
Laws: § 66-5-103(2)
Recording: Under § 66-5-106, quitclaim deeds in Tennessee are submitted through the Register’s Office in the property’s county. Often the county will charge a filing fee.
Signing: Two witnesses or a notary public must witness the grantor’s signature on a Tennessee quitclaim deed form per § 66-22-101
How to Write & File a Quitclaim Deed in Tennessee
Step 1: Download the appropriate quitclaim deed form for Tennessee.
Step 2: Add the preparer’s information. This shows the name and address of the person filling out the form.
Step 3: Underneath the preparer’s information, add the return address and name. This is the individual who will receive the form when the Register of Deeds is finished recording the deed. Most people choose the grantee for this.
Step 4: Find the line between “State of Tennessee” and “County.” This is where you record the county where the property lies.
Step 5: The next section is to record the amount paid for the property. Record the dollar amount in words, then record the amount in numbers on the blank inside the parenthesis. You need both representations on the deed form.
Step 6: Enter the grantor’s information. First, enter the name followed by the term “grantor” after the words “paid to.” Then add the grantor’s mailing address. Include the grantor’s county in the appropriate blank.
Step 7: Identify the grantee by writing their name followed by the word “Grantee.” Add the grantee’s residence, including the county, after their name.
Step 8: After “to the following described real estate, situated in,” write the county where the property is located.
Step 9: After “Tennessee, to-wit,” add the property’s legal description and address. This needs to include all of the information in the Boundary Survey, including the surveyor’s name, license number, and address.
Step 10: Take the deed to a notary public for the grantor to sign it and have it notarized. Alternately, the deed can be witnessed and signed by two witnesses.
Step 11: Record the signed and notarized deed with the Tennessee Register of Deeds in the property’s county. Ask ahead of time to learn the specific filing steps and the fees charged by the county. Recording the deed makes it legally binding and releases the grantor of their interest in the property.
