A Utah (UT) Quitclaim Deed is a legal document that allows a property owner (seller or grantor) to transfer real property to a buyer (grantee).
It names the buyer and seller, the amount paid or consideration (if any), and the legal description of the property.
A quitclaim deed only transfers the grantor’s interests in a piece of real estate. It doesn’t create any warranties on the title, and whatever part of the land the grantor owns will transfer to the grantee.
This is unlike a warranty deed, which guarantees that the grantor has legal title and ownership of the real estate.
Utah quitclaim deeds are often used when transferring property within a family, putting property into a trust for estate planning, or removing a potential interest holder from the property.
A quitclaim deed is sometimes incorrectly called a “quit claims deed,” “quick claim deed,” or a “quit claim deed.”
Important Laws & Requirements
The following are important laws and requirements for Utah quitclaim deeds.
Laws
Utah Code § 57-1-13
Formatting
Utah Code § 17-21-20 requires documents submitted for recording to contain a title or heading on the document’s first page, be printed in black ink, and have text larger than 7 lines per vertical inch.
They must also have a space of 2.5 inches down and 4.5 inches across the upper right corner of the first page and a margin of one inch for each succeeding page.
Utah quitclaim deeds must have a margin of one inch for the right and left sides and bottom of each page, and be on white paper 8.5 inches by 11 inches in size.
Legal Description
Utah Code § 57-3-105 requires the deed to contain a legal description of the property such as metes and bounds or a government survey referencing the Public Land Survey System.
The legal description can also be a survey or government land record specifying the township, range, base and meridian, and section, or a lot, block, tract, parcel, or unit within a previously recorded map.
Recording
Utah Code § 57-3-101. Utah quitclaim deeds are recorded with the local County Recorder’s Office in the county where the property is located.
Signing
Utah Code § 57-3-101. A Utah quitclaim deed must be signed by the grantor and acknowledged by a notary public with the notary stamp and seal.
Attachments
Utah Code § 57-3-109. A Water Rights Addendum must be submitted along with the deed even if there are no rights to water on the property.
How to Write & File a Quitclaim Deed in Utah
Take the following steps to write and file a quitclaim deed in Utah.
Step 1 – Obtain the Utah Quitclaim Deed
Download a free Quitclaim Deed form online.
Step 2 – Enter Preparer, Grantor, and Grantee Names
Fill in the names, mailing addresses, and contact information of the document preparer, the person to receive the recorded deed and future tax statements, grantor, and grantee.
Step 3 – Write Property Legal Description
Include the full legal description of the property and a parcel or tax identification number. Add the amount paid, if any, for the property transfer. You should also include the Water Rights Addendum.
Step 4 – Get Quitclaim Deed Notarized
The grantor must sign the document in the presence of a notary public and have the document notarized.
Step 5 – Record Your Utah Quitclaim Deed
File the completed Utah Quitclaim deed with your local County Recorder’s Office and pay the applicable recording feeds.
Utah Quitclaim Deed Sample
Below is an example of what a Utah quitclaim deed looks like.