quitclaim

American  

[kwit-klaym] / ˈkwɪtˌkleɪm /

noun

Law.

• quitclaims
  plural

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

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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

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verb

1. (tr)

   1. to renounce (a claim) formally

   2. to declare (a person) free from liability

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• quitclaims
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of quitclaim

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

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Compare meaning

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

• quitclaim vs. warranty deed

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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

See Examples For:

quitclaim

An ill homeowner can file a quitclaim deed to get their name off a jointly owned property, or if they are the sole owner, they can transfer the deed to another person.

From MarketWatch ● Aug. 25, 2026

There are many common scenarios in which you would use a quitclaim deed:

From Encyclopedia.com ● Mar. 21, 2018

If you’re going through a divorce, planning your estate or getting married and need to transfer real estate property, a quitclaim deed may be your best alternative.

From Encyclopedia.com ● Mar. 21, 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

They had urged him to sell to them all the remaining equity that he held in the property, giving a quitclaim deed for himself and his wife and for Adelle, whose legal guardian he was.

From Clark's Field by Robert Herrick

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