Does a Missouri quitclaim deed require notarization?

Yes, you normally need to have your deed notarized before recording it, as state law requires proper acknowledgment or legally accepted proof of signing.

Are witnesses required for a quitclaim deed in Missouri?

You generally don't need separate witnesses when you acknowledge your deed before a notary in Missouri.

Is a quitclaim deed required to be recorded in Missouri?

Missouri law requires you to record the deed in the county where the property is located. A deed does not have to be recorded to be binding on the parties, and recording protects your interest against subsequent purchasers with no notice.

Does a spouse need to sign a quitclaim deed in Missouri?

Your spouse must also sign if you are transferring your marital homestead. For other property, transferring without their signature or formally acknowledged written consent can expose the transfer to later claims involving their marital rights.

Does a Missouri quitclaim deed guarantee a clear title?

A Missouri quitclaim deed gives you no guarantee of clear title. You receive only the ownership interest the grantor actually holds, and existing liens or other claims against the property are not removed.

How long is a quitclaim deed good for in Missouri?

Once your deed is executed, delivered, and accepted, it remains effective unless another valid transfer or legal action changes it.

Does transferring property via a quitclaim deed trigger a tax reassessment or fees in Missouri?

You must pay recording fees, but the deed alone generally does not trigger an immediate reassessment. Missouri normally reassesses real estate in odd-numbered years, and your property remains subject to that regular assessment cycle.

Missouri Quitclaim Deed Form

What Is a Missouri Quitclaim Deed?

A Missouri quitclaim deed form transfers whatever ownership interest you have in real estate to another person or entity. The person transferring that interest is the grantor, and the recipient is the grantee.

The deed provides no guarantees about the property’s title. It does not promise that you own the property outright or that it is free from liens or other claims.

For example, if you own a share of a home, you can transfer that share through a quitclaim deed. You cannot use it to transfer another owner’s interest without their participation.

Missouri Quitclaim Deed Requirements

Missouri law sets rules for signing a deed and preparing it for recording. Use the table below to check the main requirements before completing your form.

Requirement	Missouri law	What you need to do
Written deed and signature	Mo. Rev. Stat. §442.130	Prepare a written deed signed by the grantor or a legally authorized agent.
Acknowledgment or proof	Mo. Rev. Stat. §§442.130, 442.150	Have the deed properly acknowledged, usually before a notary public, or proved and certified through another legally permitted method.
Marital status	Mo. Rev. Stat. §442.130	State whether each individual signing as a grantor is married or unmarried.
Legal description	Mo. Rev. Stat. §59.330	Include the property’s legal description. Do not rely on its street address alone.
Grantee mailing address	Mo. Rev. Stat. §59.330	Include a mailing address for at least one grantee named in the deed.
First-page information	Mo. Rev. Stat. §59.310	Include the document title, date, party names, grantor marital status, required addresses, and legal description. Identify later pages containing information that does not fit.
Recording format	Mo. Rev. Stat. §59.310	Follow Missouri’s rules for legibility, margins, paper, and signatures, including printed names beneath signatures.
Spousal participation for a homestead	Mo. Rev. Stat. §513.475	Both spouses must join in conveying a married couple’s homestead.

Common Uses for a Missouri Quitclaim Deed

You would normally use a quitclaim deed in Missouri when you know the other party personally and do not need title warranties as part of the transfer. The most frequent situations include the following:

Family transfers: Gives an ownership interest to a child, spouse, or another relative.
Divorce arrangements: Transfers your share of a home to your former spouse under an agreed settlement or court order.
Trust planning: Gives property to the trustee of your living trust.
Releasing ownership claims: Gives up an existing or potential interest to help resolve a title issue.

Keep in mind that adding someone as a co-owner, for example, requires wording that keeps your interest while creating theirs.

Create Your Missouri Quitclaim Deed

Missouri Quitclaim Deed With a Mortgage

You can transfer an interest in mortgaged property in Missouri by using a quitclaim deed. However, transferring ownership does not remove your name from the loan or release the lender’s lien.

Even if you're a borrower, you're still responsible for the mortgage until the debt is satisfied or the lender releases you.

Federal law protects certain qualifying transfers involving spouses, children, divorce, or living trusts, so review which rules apply to you.

How to File a Quitclaim Deed in Missouri

Use Lumr’s quitclaim deed Missouri template to prepare your document, then follow these steps to complete the transfer and recording process.

Gather the ownership and property details
Get a copy of the current recorded deed and locate the full legal description. Collect the parties’ legal names, relevant marital status, and the grantee’s mailing address.
Confirm who needs to sign
List every owner whose interest will transfer and check whether a spouse must join. For property in the City of St. Louis, local recording instructions require both the grantor’s and grantee’s notarized signatures.
Complete your template with Lumr
Enter the parties’ details, property description, and information about the intended transfer. Review the completed form, then download your Missouri quitclaim deed PDF for signing.
Sign and acknowledge the deed
Arrange for the grantor and any other required signers to sign and properly acknowledge the deed before a notary or another authorized official. Check that the acknowledgment certificate is complete.
Deliver the deed to the recipient
Deliver the executed deed to the grantee with the intention of making the transfer effective. The recipient must accept the conveyance.
Check recording instructions and fees
Contact the recorder’s office to confirm its submission methods, document requirements, and total recording fee. Include any requested return address or envelope so the recorded document can be returned.
Record the deed where the property is located
Submit the completed deed to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property lies. Property within the City of St. Louis is recorded with the city’s recorder.

Missouri Quitclaim Deed Form

What Is a Missouri Quitclaim Deed?

Missouri Quitclaim Deed Requirements

Common Uses for a Missouri Quitclaim Deed

Missouri Quitclaim Deed With a Mortgage

How to File a Quitclaim Deed in Missouri

Gather the ownership and property details

Confirm who needs to sign

Complete your template with Lumr

Sign and acknowledge the deed

Deliver the deed to the recipient

Check recording instructions and fees

Record the deed where the property is located

FAQs About Missouri Quitclaim Deed