A New York quitclaim deed is a written document in which the owner of real property (the grantor) releases whatever interest they hold in it to another person (the grantee). Under the Real Property Law, the deed passes the grantor's estate and rights in the property and nothing more.[2] Download the free quitclaim deed New York form below, or build one online.
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current New York law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
Build Your Document
Answer a few simple questions to make your document in minutes
Save and Print
Save progress and finish on any device, download and print anytime
Sign and Use
Your valid, lawyer-approved document is ready
The Real Property Law sets the deed rules. Three sections matter most for a quitclaim deed: Section 258 gives the statutory form of deed, Section 243 covers how a deed is acknowledged or witnessed, and Section 291 explains why recording matters. The sections below explain each rule in plain words.[2][1][3]
Section 258 of the Real Property Law sets out a short form of deed for conveying real property. The statute says the use of its forms is lawful and that it does not stop anyone from using other forms:
The use of the following forms of instruments for the conveyance and mortgage of real property is lawful, but this section does not prevent or invalidate the use of other forms
A deed that follows the statutory form is enough to convey the grantor's interest in the property it describes. An equivalent deed that makes the parties' transaction plain is not invalid because its wording differs.[2]
The statutory quitclaim wording has the owner remise, release and quitclaim to the new owner all the estate and rights held in the premises. In plain words, the owner gives up whatever interest they have, and a quitclaim deed passes that interest and nothing more.[2]
Section 243 of the Real Property Law deals with a deed's execution and delivery. It expects the deed to be duly acknowledged before it is delivered. An acknowledgment is the signer's formal statement that the signature is their own.
The statute then covers three situations:
An incumbrancer is a person who holds a claim on the property, such as a lender. In practice, many people have a notary public complete the acknowledgment. The form has a notary block for this on page 5, and witness lines on page 4.
The notary who takes the acknowledgment signs the certificate and adds, printed, typed or stamped beneath the signature in black ink, the notary's name, the words "Notary Public State of New York", the county of original qualification and the commission expiration date (Executive Law 137). A stamp is one permitted way to add that information, and the acknowledgment is not invalid if it is missing.[4]
Recording is what protects a deed against later claims. Under Section 291 of the Real Property Law, a conveyance that is not recorded is void against a person who later purchases, or contracts to purchase, the same property or part of it, if that person:
Under Section 291, a duly acknowledged or proved deed may be recorded in the office of the clerk of the county where the property is located, and the county clerk (or, in New York City, the city register) records it on the request of any party once the fees are tendered, so either party can file it.[3]
A quitclaim deed is often filed together with transfer documents, and many people who record a deed also complete two tax-related forms. They are separate from the quitclaim deed itself, and the county clerk can tell you which ones your transfer calls for.
Gather the details below before you start, because the form asks for this information. Having them on hand lets you complete the deed in one sitting and avoid blanks that you have to fix later.
The FormsPal quitclaim deed form runs five pages. The fields are on pages 1, 2, 4 and 5, and page 3 is blank, so work through the parts below in the order they appear on the form. Start with our quitclaim deed form builder or the download above, and you can fill in the PDF on screen with our PDF editor, or print it and write by hand.
Once the completed deed has all its signatures and the acknowledgment, see the recording section above before you take the property deed to the county clerk.
A quitclaim deed fits cases where ownership moves between people who already trust each other. It is a legal document that changes who owns the property, so the details need to be accurate. It suits a simple transfer where no one expects the signer to vouch for the title, because page 2 of the form says the property passes without any warranty.
People commonly use it for:
In practice, a buyer who wants the seller to stand behind the title usually asks for a different type of deed.
A quitclaim deed and a warranty deed both transfer ownership of real estate, but they differ in what the signer promises. The quitclaim deed New York form on this page passes the signer's interest without any warranty, as page 2 of the form states. A warranty deed usually adds promises about the title.
If you are unsure which type fits your transfer, ask the county clerk or a professional who handles real estate documents.
Most problems with a deed come from small details. A quick review before you sign can catch them, so check the items below against the form and your current ownership documents.
A quitclaim deed is a deed in which the owner releases to the new owner all the estate and rights held in the property described. It passes that interest and nothing more. The statutory wording appears in Section 258 of the Real Property Law.[2]
Other Quitclaim Deed Forms by State
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the N.Y. Real Prop. Law.
