Missouri Quitclaim Deed Form

A quitclaim deed is not the same as a warranty deed. A quitclaim deed conveys only the interest the grantor holds at that moment.^[1] In practice, the grantee should research the property before accepting the deed, because other people may still have claims on it.

Quitclaim Deed Laws and Requirements in Missouri

A Missouri quitclaim deed must be subscribed, which means signed, by the grantor or the grantor's lawful agent. It must also state whether each natural person signing as a grantor is married or unmarried, and it must be acknowledged.^[2] The deed is then recorded in the office of the county recorder.^[3] Each rule comes from Chapter 442 of the Missouri Revised Statutes and is explained below.

The Interest the Deed Passes

Section 442.460 of the Mo. Rev. Stat. says that every conveyance of real estate passes all of the grantor's estate in it. The exception is a deed that expressly shows, or necessarily implies, an intent to pass a less estate. A quitclaim deed therefore conveys the grantor's interest in the property described, and nothing more than the interest the grantor holds at that time.^[1]

Signing Requirements

Section 442.130 of the Mo. Rev. Stat. sets the rules for signing a deed. The statute reads:

All deeds or other conveyances of lands, or of any estate or interest therein, shall be subscribed by the party granting the same, or by his lawful agent, and shall be acknowledged or proved and certified in the manner herein prescribed.

In plain words, a Missouri quitclaim deed needs three things:

• The grantor, or the grantor's lawful agent, subscribes the deed, which means signs it.^[2]
• The deed is acknowledged, or proved and certified, in the manner prescribed by the statute.^[2]
• The deed states whether each natural person acting as a grantor or other party is married or unmarried.^[2]

When the notary takes the acknowledgment, the notary signs the certificate and affixes the notary's official seal, which shows the notary's name, commission number and commission expiration date (Sections 486.725 and 486.730 of the Mo. Rev. Stat.).^[4]

Recording Requirements

Section 442.380 of the Mo. Rev. Stat. covers recording. A deed that has been acknowledged and certified must be recorded in the office of the recorder of the county where the real estate is situated.^[3]

In practice, you take the signed and acknowledged deed to the recorder of deeds for the county where the property sits. It helps to ask that office how it accepts filings and what it charges before you go.

The recorder charges a per-page recording fee set by Section 59.310 of the Mo. Rev. Stat.^[5]

Steps to Complete the Missouri Quitclaim Deed Form

The builder above asks a few simple questions and prepares your Missouri quitclaim deed. The deed form has eight parts, listed below in the order they appear. Each step names the part of the form and its page, so you know what to enter. Our quitclaim deed page gives a general overview.

1. Prepared By and After Recording Return To (page 1). At the top of page 1, fill in the Prepared By lines, the After Recording Return To lines and the Tax Parcel Number. Leave the box marked for the recorder's use empty.
2. Date and consideration (page 1). Enter the day, month and year on the date line. Then tick the consideration box and write the amount in words and in figures, or tick the box printed as "as a gift and for no cash consideration".
3. Grantor (page 1). Write the grantor's name on the first line, and a second grantor's name on the next line if there is one. Then write the grantor's address.
4. Grantee (page 1). Write the grantee's name or names after the word "unto", then the grantee's address on the line that follows.
5. Property (pages 1 and 2). Enter the county and state, and the property's street address after "known as" at the foot of page 1. On page 2, enter the Parcel Id.
6. Marital status of the grantor (page 2). At the bottom of page 2, write married or unmarried for the grantor, or for each grantor. Read the two printed paragraphs above it before you sign.
7. Signature blocks under IN WITNESS WHEREOF (page 4). Each grantor signs on the Grantor line and completes the By, Printed Name and Title lines in that block. Use the second block for a second grantor. Each block has two Witness lines. Page 3 is blank by design.
8. Acknowledgment (page 5). The acknowledgment on page 5 is completed before the notary. The notary fills in the state, county, date, the grantor's name, Notary Public and My commission expires lines. Use the second block for a second grantor.

Once the deed is signed and acknowledged, see the recording rules above before you take it to the county.

Related Missouri Deed Forms and Documents

A quitclaim deed is one of several documents FormsPal offers for a Missouri property transfer. The warranty deed, the transfer on death deed and the real estate purchase agreement each have their own form and their own page. Use the list below to find the one you need.

• General warranty deed, a separate deed form with its own page.
• Missouri transfer on death deed, a separate deed form with its own builder.
• Missouri real estate purchase agreement, a legal document for a property sale.

Before You Take the Deed to the Recorder

A few practical checks help the signed deed go through at the county recorder's office. These are practice tips, not statutory requirements, so ask the recorder's office if anything is unclear. Review the following before you leave the notary:

• Compare the legal description in the deed with the description on record for the property.
• Confirm that the owner's name on the deed matches the name on record.
• Check that the signature block and the acknowledgment block are both complete.
• Keep a copy of the signed deed for your files.

Frequently Asked Questions

These answers cover the signing, marital status, acknowledgment and recording rules for a Missouri quitclaim deed. Each answer comes from Chapter 442 of the Missouri Revised Statutes and cites the section behind it.

What is required for a quit claim deed in Missouri?

A Missouri quit claim deed must be subscribed, which means signed, by the grantor or the grantor's lawful agent. It must also state whether each natural person signing as a grantor or other party is married or unmarried. The deed must be acknowledged, or proved and certified, in the manner prescribed by the statute.^[2]

What are the rules for a quit claim deed in Missouri?

Three rules from Chapter 442 apply to every Missouri quit claim deed:

• The grantor or the grantor's lawful agent subscribes the deed, and the deed states whether each grantor is married or unmarried.^[2]
• The deed is acknowledged, then recorded in the office of the recorder of the county where the property is situated.^[2][3]
• Under Section 442.460, the deed passes all of the grantor's estate unless it shows an intent to pass less.^[1]

Other Missouri Forms
Listed below are various other Missouri documents completed by FormsPal visitors. Consider our powerful builder to customize these forms to your requirements.

Missouri Last Will Missouri Living Will Missouri Small Estate Affidavit Missouri Bill of Sale Missouri Power of Attorney Missouri Rental Lease Agreement Missouri Eviction Notice Missouri Promissory Note Missouri Non-compete Agreement Missouri Prenuptial Agreement Missouri LLC Operating Agreement Missouri Marital Settlement (Divorce) Agreement

General information, not legal or tax advice.

Sources

1. Mo. Rev. Stat. 442.460.
2. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 442.130.
3. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 442.380.
4. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 486.725.
5. Mo. Rev. Stat. § 59.310.

Mara Erlach

Writer & Attorney

Mara has been practicing estate planning and trust law in California since 2003, taking pride in helping clients of all backgrounds and asset profiles form a complete and customized estate plan. Her specialties are: estate planning, wills and trusts, trust and probate administration.