What Is an Arizona Quitclaim Deed?
A quitclaim deed in Arizona passes along whatever ownership stake someone has in a property, with no guarantees attached. It doesn't confirm the title is free of liens, and it doesn't confirm the person signing even holds clear ownership to begin with. It's one of the simplest ways to move a property interest on paper.
This differs from a warranty deed, which comes with a legal promise that the title is free of hidden claims, something a quitclaim deed never offers.
Arizona quitclaim deed forms are governed by A.R.S. § 33-402, which requires quitclaim language instead of a warranty-style promise. Because nothing is guaranteed, most people limit it to transfers within a family or a business partnership. A straightforward sale to someone unrelated usually calls for a warranty deed and, often, title insurance.
Arizona Quitclaim Deed Requirements
You have to meet a few requirements before a county recorder will accept a quitclaim deed in Arizona:
- The grantor's signature, acknowledged before a notary public
- A complete legal description of the property, not just the mailing address
- Margins of at least half an inch on every side, with two inches reserved at the top of the first page for recording information
- Print no smaller than 10-point type throughout
- An Affidavit of Property Value, unless the transfer qualifies for an exemption
Arizona doesn't ask for witnesses, only notarization. A deed involving property acquired during marriage may also need the other spouse's signature.
Common Uses for an Arizona Quitclaim Deed
A few situations account for most quitclaim deeds:
- Adding a new spouse to the title after marriage
- Moving property into or out of a living trust
- Gifting a house or land to a family member
- Fixing a clerical error, like a misspelled name, on a previous deed
- Dividing an inherited property among siblings
Most quitclaim deeds in Arizona involve no payment, which usually exempts the transfer from the Affidavit of Property Value requirement. This exemption is listed as code A4 under A.R.S. § 11-1134.
A sale at market value between unrelated parties doesn't get that exemption and calls for a warranty deed instead.
Create Your Arizona Quitclaim Deed
Arizona Quitclaim Deed with Mortgage
An Arizona quitclaim deed form changes who holds title. It doesn’t change the mortgage itself, which stays payable by whoever originally borrowed the money.
Handing over full ownership through a quitclaim deed after a divorce doesn't get an ex-spouse's name off the loan, since only a refinance or the lender's approval of an assumption does that.
Federal law lets most lenders call the full loan balance due the moment ownership changes, under what's known as a due-on-sale clause.
Enforcement is rare for a transfer within a family, though the clause stays enforceable either way. Anyone with doubts about their specific loan should call the lender before recording anything.
How to File a Quitclaim Deed in Arizona
Filing a quitclaim deed form with Lumr’s help is fast and straightforward with our quitclaim deed for Arizona template. Simply follow the steps below.
- 1
Confirm the legal description
Start with the legal description already on file for the property. Guessing from the street address is the main reason county recorders reject filings.
- 2
Identify the grantor and grantee
Both names need to be complete and legally accurate. List the person giving up their interest and the person taking it on, spelled exactly as they appear on the current deed.
- 3
Draft the deed
This is where Lumr's template does the legal heavy lifting. It uses the exact statutory language required by A.R.S. § 33-402, so you don’t draft anything by hand.
- 4
Sign before a notary
The notary handles the identity check and the required acknowledgment. A spouse signs alongside the grantor if community property rules call for it.
- 5
Complete the Affidavit of Property Value
Fill out the Affidavit of Property Value, or mark the correct exemption code if no money changed hands. Most counties refuse to record either the deed or the affidavit without the other.
- 6
Record with the county
File the signed deed and the affidavit, if one applies, with the recorder in the county where the property is. Recording adds the transfer to the public record and protects the new owner's claim.
Lumr’s template gives you an Arizona quitclaim deed PDF ready to sign and file the same day.