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 Ohio, a quitclaim deed is a legal instrument used to transfer a grantor's rights, title, and interest in a property to a grantee, without any warranties of title. It is often used among family members or to clear up title issues. The grantor of a quitclaim deed in Ohio does not guarantee that they hold valid ownership of the property or that the property is free from other claims or liens. The deed only transfers whatever interest the grantor may have at the time of the transfer, which could be none at all. 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. It is important for grantees to understand that a quitclaim deed offers the least amount of protection of any deed and to consider a title search or obtaining title insurance. Ohio law requires that quitclaim deeds be notarized and filed with the county recorder's office where the property is located to be valid.