quitclaim

American  

[kwit-kleym] / ˈkwɪtˌkleɪm /

noun

Law.

1. a transfer of all one's interest, as in a parcel of real estate, especially without a warranty of title.

---

verb (used with object)

1. to quit or give up claim to (a possession, right, etc.).

quitclaim British  

/ ˈkwɪtˌkleɪm /

noun

1. a formal renunciation of any claim against a person or of a right to land

---

verb

1. (tr)

   1. to renounce (a claim) formally

   2. to declare (a person) free from liability

Etymology

Origin of quitclaim

1275–1325; Middle English quitclayme < Anglo-French quiteclame, derivative of quiteclamer to declare quit. See quit ¹ (adj.), claim

Compare meaning

How does quitclaim compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• quitclaim vs. warranty deed

Explanation

A quitclaim is an act of giving up your ownership of a property and transferring it to another person. If your grandmother signs her house over to your dad, that's a quitclaim. The legal term quitclaim can be used generally to mean "abandoning any claim on a property," or more specifically for a type of legal document that does the same thing. A quitclaim allows a person to transfer property to another person with a simple deed. The basic idea is that all the rights and claims of being a property owner are relinquished and legally turned over to someone else.

Example Sentences

A quitclaim deed can be used to add a spouse to a property title, or it can be used as a quick way of transferring property between two parties.

From Encyclopedia.com • Mar. 21, 2018

In other cases, a title insurance agent may ask a heir to quitclaim if she does not want to hold interest in a home bequeathed to her.

From Encyclopedia.com • Feb. 5, 2018

A few court divisions offer a fill-in-the-blanks quitclaim deed that meets statutory requirements, particularly notices about potential assessments of property transfer taxes upon the grantor.

From Encyclopedia.com • Feb. 5, 2018

The most common use of a quitclaim deed is to add or remove spouses from title; this can happen when couples get married or divorced.

From Encyclopedia.com • Feb. 5, 2018

Charters, releases, obligations, quitclaim deeds and other deeds burnt or destroyed in uprisings shall be reissued without fee, after trial by the king and his council.

From Our Legal Heritage June 2011 (Sixth) Edition by Reilly, S. A.