How do I fill out a quit claim deed in Michigan?

Fill in the grantor (current owner) with marital status, the grantee (new owner) with the mailing address, the consideration amount or exemption statement, and the complete legal description copied word-for-word from the last recorded deed. Add the tax parcel ID, the drafter's name and address, and a 'when recorded return to' address. The grantor then signs in front of a Michigan notary, and the deed is recorded with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property sits.

What is a quitclaim deed in Michigan?

A quitclaim deed is a Michigan real estate document that transfers whatever interest the grantor has in a property to the grantee, with no warranty of title. It is commonly used between family members, into or out of a trust, after a divorce, or to clear a clouded title.

Where do I record a quitclaim deed in Michigan?

At the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located — not where you live. St. Clair County records in Port Huron, Macomb County in Mount Clemens, Oakland County in Pontiac, and Wayne County in Detroit. Most offices accept walk-ins, mail, and e-recording through an approved submitter.

How much does it cost to record a quitclaim deed in Michigan?

Most Michigan counties charge a flat recording fee of $30 per document under MCL 600.2567. Transfers for consideration may also owe state and county real estate transfer tax; many family or trust transfers qualify for an exemption.

Do I need a lawyer to do a quitclaim deed in Michigan?

Michigan does not require an attorney to prepare or record a quitclaim deed. Most people who use one handle it themselves or use a document preparation service. Clear Path prepares the deed and the Property Transfer Affidavit from the information you give us. We are not a law firm and cannot advise you on whether a deed is the right choice.

Does a quitclaim deed remove someone from a mortgage?

No. A quitclaim deed only transfers ownership interest in the property. It does not remove a person from a mortgage loan — that requires a refinance, loan assumption, or release from the lender.

Does a Michigan quitclaim deed need witnesses?

No. Witnesses have not been required on Michigan deeds executed after April 2018. Notarization of every grantor's signature is still mandatory.

Will a quitclaim deed raise my property taxes in Michigan?

It can. A transfer of ownership normally 'uncaps' the taxable value under MCL 211.27a, which can raise the tax bill. Common exemptions include transfers between spouses and transfers to a child, grandchild, parent, or sibling when the property stays residential and is not used commercially.

What is the difference between a quitclaim deed and a lady bird deed in Michigan?

A quitclaim deed transfers ownership right now and cannot be undone without the new owner's cooperation. A lady bird deed (enhanced life estate deed) keeps full control and the principal residence exemption during your lifetime and transfers the property automatically at death, avoiding probate. If your goal is to pass a home to a child after death, a lady bird deed is usually the tool people are looking for.

How long does it take to record a quitclaim deed in Michigan?

Walk-in recording is usually the same day. Mailed deeds are typically recorded within one to three weeks depending on the county, and the stamped copy is mailed back to the 'return to' address on the deed.

Can ClearPath prepare my Michigan quitclaim deed?

Yes. Starting prices are $275 for preparation when you supply the current recorded deed, $425 for a complete package with record research, in-office notarization, and recording coordination, and $495 for white-glove mobile signing support and recorded-document follow-up. Every matter is reviewed before a written quote, and nothing is purchased online. We are not a law firm and do not provide legal advice.

Michigan Real Estate Document Guide

Michigan Quitclaim Deed Guide

A plain-English walkthrough of how Michigan quitclaim deeds work, what goes in every blank, and how to record them correctly with the Register of Deeds.

Reviewed and updated September 25, 2026 by the Clear Path document team. Informational only — not legal advice.

Quick Answer

How do you fill out and file a quit claim deed in Michigan?

To fill out a Michigan quit claim deed, list the grantor (current owner) with marital status, the grantee (new owner) with a mailing address, the consideration amount or the transfer-tax exemption, and the complete legal description copied exactly from the last recorded deed. Add the tax parcel number, the drafter's name and address, and a 'when recorded return to' address. Sign in front of a notary, then record the deed with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property sits — normally a flat $30 fee — and file Property Transfer Affidavit Form 2766 with the local assessor within 45 days.

Request a deed-preparation quote

Recording fee

$30 flat per document (MCL 600.2567)

Companion form

Property Transfer Affidavit, Form 2766

PTA deadline

45 days after the transfer

State transfer tax

$3.75 per $500 of value (many transfers exempt)

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only. ClearPath Document Services is a document preparation service, not a law firm, and does not provide legal advice.Read full disclaimer

Decide whether a quitclaim deed is the right tool

Quitclaim deeds are most common for transfers between spouses, parents and children, into or out of revocable trusts, divorce-related transfers, and corrections of prior deeds. They transfer ownership with no warranty of title, so the grantee receives only whatever interest the grantor actually owns.

Adding or removing a spouse after marriage or divorce
Transfers into a revocable living trust or LLC
Parent-to-child or sibling transfers
Correcting a prior deed (often called a corrective deed)
Not the right tool if you want to keep control now and transfer at death — that is a lady bird deed

Gather the required information

A Michigan quitclaim deed must clearly identify the parties, the property, and the type of ownership being created. The legal description must come from the prior recorded deed or a title document — a street address alone is not enough.

Full legal names and addresses of grantor(s) and grantee(s)
Marital status of each grantor
Complete legal description (lot, subdivision, liber/page or tax parcel ID)
Consideration amount (or statement that it is a gift / exempt transfer)
Form of ownership (joint tenants, tenants in common, sole ownership, trust)

Fill out the deed, blank by blank

Michigan does not publish a single statewide quitclaim deed form, so most people use a county-accepted template. Whatever template you use, the same blanks appear in the same order. Here is what belongs in each one, top to bottom.

Title line: 'Quit Claim Deed' — some counties reject a document with no title in the top margin
Grantor: exact legal name as it appears on the current deed, plus marital status (for example 'John A. Smith, a married man')
Grantee: exact legal name and the mailing address where tax bills should go, plus how title is held ('as joint tenants with full rights of survivorship')
Consideration: the dollar amount paid, or 'less than $100.00' / 'gift' for family transfers
Legal description: copied word-for-word from the last recorded deed — do not retype from memory or use only the street address
Tax parcel identification number: from your tax bill or the county property lookup
Transfer tax statement: the exemption statute if the transfer is exempt (for example, 'Exempt under MCL 207.526(a)')
Signature and notary block: every grantor signs in front of a Michigan notary
Drafted by: name and address of whoever prepared the deed
When recorded return to: the address where the county mails the stamped original back

Prepare and notarize the deed

The deed must be in writing, signed by every grantor, and acknowledged before a Michigan notary public. Michigan also requires specific drafter and return-to information in the margins. Two witnesses are no longer required for deeds executed after April 2018, but notarization is mandatory.

Grantor signature(s) acknowledged before a notary
Name and address of the person who drafted the deed
'When recorded return to' address in the top margin
Tax parcel identification number
Margins meeting MCL 565.201 formatting requirements (2.5-inch top margin on the first page)

Record the deed with your county Register of Deeds

Once notarized, the deed must be recorded in the Register of Deeds office for the county where the property is located. Recording protects the grantee's interest and puts the transfer on the public record. Most Michigan counties charge a flat $30 recording fee per document under MCL 600.2567.

File in the county where the property sits — not where the parties live
St. Clair County Register of Deeds — Port Huron (county building downtown)
Macomb County Register of Deeds — Mount Clemens (county complex)
Oakland County Register of Deeds — Pontiac (Oakland Pointe)
Wayne County Register of Deeds — Detroit (Coleman A. Young Municipal Center)
$30 flat recording fee in most Michigan counties; bring a check or money order
Many counties also allow e-recording through an approved submitter
Keep the stamped/recorded copy for your records

File the Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766)

Michigan law (MCL 211.27a) requires the new owner to file a Property Transfer Affidavit (PTA) with the local city or township assessor within 45 days of the transfer. Missing this deadline can trigger penalties of $5 per day up to $200.

File PTA Form 2766 with the local assessor — not the Register of Deeds
Due within 45 days of the transfer
Triggers reassessment ('uncapping') unless a statutory exemption applies
Common exemptions: transfers between spouses, parent-to-child, into a trust
If the property is the buyer's home, also file the Principal Residence Exemption affidavit (Form 2368)

Know the transfer tax rules and exemptions

Transfers for consideration may owe Michigan real estate transfer tax: $3.75 per $500 at the state level (MCL 207.526) and $0.55–$0.75 per $500 at the county level. Many family, trust, divorce, and nominal-consideration transfers are exempt — the exemption must be listed on the face of the deed.

State transfer tax: $3.75 per $500 of value
County transfer tax: $0.55–$0.75 per $500 of value
Gift or nominal consideration under $100: commonly exempt under MCL 207.505(a) / 207.526(a)
Transfer between spouses or former spouses as part of a divorce judgment: commonly exempt
Transfer into or out of a revocable trust for the same beneficial owner: commonly exempt
Write the exemption statute directly on the deed — the clerk will not add it for you

Quitclaim deed vs. lady bird deed vs. warranty deed

These three Michigan deeds do very different jobs. A quitclaim transfers whatever you own today with no promises. A warranty deed guarantees clear title and is what buyers get in a normal sale. A lady bird deed keeps the property in your name for life and passes it to the person you name at death, outside probate.

Quitclaim deed: immediate transfer, no title warranty, common between family and into trusts
Warranty deed: immediate transfer with a title guarantee, used in arm's-length sales
Lady bird deed: you keep control and tax exemptions for life, property passes at death without probate
Only the lady bird deed avoids probate on its own
A quitclaim to a child during your lifetime gives up your control and can create tax and Medicaid consequences

What a quitclaim deed does NOT do

A quitclaim deed is a powerful but limited tool. Understanding its limits prevents costly surprises after recording.

Does not remove anyone from a mortgage — only the lender can do that
Does not guarantee clear title — the grantor warrants nothing
Does not avoid probate by itself (a lady bird deed may be a better option)
Does not change beneficiary designations on the property
Cannot be undone unilaterally once recorded

Common mistakes on Michigan quitclaim deeds

Almost every rejected deed we see fails for one of the same handful of reasons. Checking these before you drive to the county office saves a second trip and a second fee.

Using the street address instead of the full legal description
Leaving out marital status of the grantor
No tax parcel number on the deed
Missing the drafter's name and address or the return-to address
Not enough top margin on the first page (MCL 565.201)
Forgetting the transfer-tax exemption statute, so the clerk charges tax on a family transfer
Recording the deed but never filing the Property Transfer Affidavit within 45 days

What a Michigan quitclaim deed costs and how long it takes

The county recording fee is flat and the same statewide: $30 per document under MCL 600.2567. Beyond that, your total depends on whether transfer tax applies, whether you need a notary, and whether you prepare the deed yourself or have it prepared. Walk-in recording is usually same-day; mail is typically one to three weeks.

Recording fee: $30 flat per document, every Michigan county
State transfer tax: $3.75 per $500 of value — most family, trust, and divorce transfers are exempt
County transfer tax: $0.55–$0.75 per $500 of value when not exempt
Notary: $0–$10 per signature; many banks and credit unions notarize free for members
Property Transfer Affidavit (Form 2766): no fee, but a $5/day penalty up to $200 if filed late
Clear Path Preparation: starts at $275 when you supply the current recorded deed; includes the deed, Property Transfer Affidavit, applicable PRE affidavit, instructions, and one revision
Clear Path Complete Package: starts at $425 and adds property-record research, legal-description retrieval and proofreading, in-office notarization, and recording coordination; the $30 recording fee is separate
Clear Path White-Glove/Mobile Package: starts at $495 and adds mobile signing or notary coordination, submission, and recorded-document follow-up; actual recording, travel, delivery, and government charges are separate
Every matter is reviewed before a written quote, and nothing is purchased online
Timeline: same-day at the counter, 1–3 weeks by mail, 1–3 business days by e-recording

Where to record by county — Register of Deeds notes

Deeds are recorded where the property sits, not where you live. Every office takes the same $30 flat fee and the same document standards, but hours, e-recording, and payment methods differ. Call the office before you drive out if you are paying by card or filing more than one document.

Wayne County (Detroit) — Coleman A. Young Municipal Center; heavy volume, e-recording through an approved submitter is fastest
Oakland County (Pontiac) — Oakland Pointe; e-recording widely used, walk-in counter available
Macomb County (Mount Clemens) — county complex downtown; walk-in recording is usually same-day
Kent County (Grand Rapids) — county administration building; e-recording accepted through approved submitters
Genesee County (Flint) — county administration building; confirm current counter hours before traveling
St. Clair County (Port Huron) — county building downtown; small office, quick counter service
Bring a check or money order — not every office accepts cards at the counter
File the Property Transfer Affidavit with the city or township assessor, never with the Register of Deeds

Frequently Asked Questions

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