Free Connecticut Quitclaim Deed Form

Questions to Ask Before Signing a Quitclaim Deed in Connecticut

Before technology and sophistication, the transfer of real property took place through a ‘livery of seisin,’ a testimonial act which had one person transferring land by passing a twig or even a turf clod from the land being transferred to the person taking new ownership of the land. Of course, this is an outdated tradition but the tradition was important and the only way to signify an actual transfer of property, even with written or verbal contracts. Today, the situation is a little different and the transfer of ownership interests for real property is done through a deed. One of these deeds is the quitclaim deed.

What is the quitclaim deed?

Also called the quitclaim, a non-warranty deed, or a quitclaim deed form, this is the document used in the transfer of interests in property, often between family members. While the transfer of interests in the named property is the main purpose of the deed, the quitclaim is sometimes used to cure or eliminate defects present on a property title. It’s effective and the transfer of interest or right to property fast, hence the incorrect spelling of this legal instrument. So, contrary to what other make you belief, the document is not also called a quick claim deed – this is a misspelt version of the phrase. The other thing you need to know is that this document offers a limited amount of protection to the person getting the interests for the property.

According to the quitclaim deed in Connecticut, the person/ entity transferring their interests to a named property is the grantor while the individual/ entity receiving interests in the property is the grantee.

Which are the legal requirements for the validity of a quitclaim?

• The state has set some legal measures to ensure that the deed is legally binding and executable. So, while you first need to download a free Connecticut quitclaim deed form, you need to ensure that yours is a printable version of the form and that it will help you enter all the details required. The details required for the validity and legality of the deed include:

• • The document must be presented in writing

  • Its title must clearly identify the intent of the document

  • It must have the full legal names and mailing addresses of the grantor and the grantee

  • It should also have the vesting choice of the grantee. The vesting choice represents how the grantee wishes to hold the property’s title.

  • A legal description and the exact address of the property

  • The deed’s execution date

  • Signatures of the grantor and the grantee, as well as an acknowledgement of the notary public or anyone else with vested power to oversee oaths.

  • Signatures of at least two independent witnesses

  • Details of previous documentation, if any. These details must include the page, book, or the serial number reference of the earlier recording

  • Full legal name and the contact details of the party creating the new document

  • The details on changes in property ownership should be recorded in the public records with the Town Clerk’s office or the officer responsible for the maintenance of all public land records in your county. The recording should be done in a paper format meeting the requirements of the state. In this case, the deed should be prepared on a letter-sized document with specific minimum margin sizes left all around the page.

Note that the state of Connecticut follows the Notice Recording Statute which asserts that any unrecorded real property conveyances will not be effective against parties besides the grantor or their heirs. In simple terms, this means that a real property whose rights are conveyed but not recorded in the public records, but recorded in a later conveyance by someone else (a bona fide grantee), will prevail over the deed issued to the earlier grantee.

What are the differences between a quitclaim and a warranty deed?

Well, a quitclaim refers to the document that documents the transfer of interests or rights in property, but without any warranties on the title. In this case, the quitclaim could indicate a transfer of interests in property, even when the grantor is not the owner of the property or if the property has liens attached to it. For these reasons, it is also called a non-warranty deed.

The warranty deed, on the other hand, refers to the document that not only transfers rights/ interests to real property, but also shows that the grantor is the actual owner of the property. With this deed, the grantor also shows that the property on conveyance has no liens or debts to it.

A warranty deed has a warranty of title but the non-warranty deed lacks the warranty of title. The warranty of title, from the grantor/ transferor to the grantee/ transferee refers to the legal guarantee that the title being transferred has no title issues. The most common title issues which would be present in a non-warranty deed include forgery of the deed, earlier undisclosed conveyances, public record errors, unprobated wills, missing heirs, or boundary issues. Property without these (and other) title issues is a property with a clear title.

• Which are the common uses of the quitclaim form?

• • Gifting of real estate when recipient is not paying any money

  • When removing clouds/ errors from a title

  • Transfer of interests on property to a business entity or a partner

  • Removal of an ex-spouse from a property’s title

  • Transferring interests in property to children

  • Transfer of rights or interests in property to a trust or a living trust

So, do any of these uses sound like scenarios applicable to you? Perhaps you only need the deed to transfer your interests on property as part of your rental lease agreement.

Whichever your need, our free quitclaim deed form that is easily downloaded in PDF has you covered. You can use the free deed form in Hartford, Stamford, New Haven, Bridgeport, Norwalk, Danbury, Greenwich, Milford, or any other city in Connecticut.