What does quitclaimed mean?
“Quitclaimed” describes property or an interest that has been formally surrendered through the legal process called a quitclaim. A quitclaim deed does not guarantee that the person giving up the interest actually has good title to the property; it transfers only whatever interest the grantor legally possesses. The term is therefore distinct from an ordinary warranty deed, which includes express promises about ownership and the right to transfer the property. In everyday legal prose, “quitclaimed” often modifies “deed,” “property,” or “interest.” The word can also be used more broadly when an organization or individual gives up a legal claim, as in a settlement that includes quitclaimed interests. Its specialized meaning makes it especially useful in conveyancing, real-estate disputes, and estate administration, where the precise scope of the rights transferred is important.
adjectiveHaving formally relinquished all claim to a property or interest. In legal usage, a quitclaimed interest or deed transfers the grantor's interest without any warranty that the grantor possesses good title to it.
- Having relinquished a claim to property or an interest in property.
- Transferred by means of a quitclaim deed or other instrument that makes no warranty of title.
"The attorney filed a quitclaimed deed transferring the disputed property to the beneficiaries."
"The siblings received the property through quitclaimed deeds signed by their parents."
"Because the title was uncertain, the purchaser accepted a quitclaimed interest in the land."
A quitclaim deed can transfer whatever interest someone has—without promising that they actually own it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does quitclaimed come from?
“Quitclaimed” combines “quit” and “claim,” expressing the relinquishment of a claim. “Quit” comes through Old French from Latin “quittere,” meaning to release or give up, while “claim” comes through Old French from Latin “clamare,” meaning to call out or demand. The compound legal term “quitclaim” developed as a conveyance that transfers a grantor’s interest without warranting title.
Related word forms
How quitclaimed is actually used
This is chiefly a legal term. It does not mean that a person has abandoned every conceivable claim, but that the person has relinquished a specified property interest through a quitclaim instrument.
Easily confused with quitclaimed
“Quitclaimed” is the past tense or past participle of “quitclaim,” whereas “quitclaim” is the verb itself or the legal instrument that relinquishes a claim.