What is a "quitclaim deed" used for?

A quitclaim deed is primarily utilized to transfer an interest in real property from one party to another without providing any warranties or guarantees regarding the title. This means that the grantor (the person transferring their interest) does not assure the grantee (the person receiving the interest) that the property is free from any claims, liens, or encumbrances. Instead, the quitclaim deed simply conveys whatever interest the grantor has in the property at that time, which can be very useful in situations such as transferring property between family members, clearing up title issues, or in cases of divorce settlements.

The lack of warranties is a key characteristic of a quitclaim deed—it is a straightforward way to relinquish rights without any additional assurances about the property’s encumbrances or legal standing. This makes it different from other types of deeds, such as warranty deeds, which do provide such guarantees.

In contrast, methods like securing a property loan typically would involve other types of agreements, and a quitclaim deed by itself does not establish ownership of vacant land, nor does it guarantee a clean title, as other options suggest.