A quitclaim deed—also known as a quitclaim—is a deed that transfers whatever interest the grantor (purported owner) has in a piece of real property to the grantee (buyer)—but does not represent or warrant that the grantor’s title (ownership) is valid (that the grantor has any ownership interest in it) or free from liens or encumbrances.

A quitclaim deed only purports to convey the grantor’s present interest in the land (if any) and does not purport to convey the land itself. Thus, if the grantor were to acquire an interest in the land after executing (signing) a quitclaim deed, the grantor would retain that interest, as the grantor did not have it at the time the grantor executed the quitclaim deed.

In Michigan, a quitclaim deed is a legal instrument used to transfer a grantor's interest in a property to a grantee without any warranties of title. This means that the grantor does not guarantee that they own the property free and clear of any liens or encumbrances, nor do they guarantee that they have any ownership interest at all. The quitclaim deed conveys only the interest that the grantor has at the time of the transfer, if any. If the grantor later acquires an interest in the property, that interest is not transferred to the grantee because it was not owned by the grantor at the time the quitclaim deed was executed. Quitclaim deeds are often used among family members or to clear up title issues, as they are a quick and simple way to transfer property without the formalities and protections provided by warranty deeds. It's important for grantees to understand the lack of assurances provided with quitclaim deeds and to conduct due diligence on the property's title before accepting such a deed.