Call The Harris Firm LLC today at (205) 201-1789
A quit claim deed is the right tool between people who already trust each other — family, former spouses carrying out a decree, or you and your own trust. It is the wrong tool for buying property from a stranger. We will tell you which situation you are in before you spend a dime.
In short: A quit claim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has in a property — no more, no less — with no warranties about the title. It is the fastest and simplest deed Alabama law offers, which makes it ideal for transfers where the parties already know the property’s history.
Best uses: Transfers between family members, deeding your home into a revocable living trust, carrying out a divorce decree, adding or removing a spouse from title, and cleaning up title problems left by old or defective deeds.
The Alabama framework: A deed must be in writing, signed by the grantor, and properly attested or acknowledged under Alabama Code §35-4-20, then recorded in the probate office of the county where the land lies. If the property is the family homestead, the non-owner spouse generally must sign too under Alabama Code §6-10-3.
The flat fee: $750 covers drafting, notarization, and recording with the county probate office. The phone consultation is free, so you know exactly what you are getting before you commit.
How a Quit Claim Deed Works
Every deed answers two questions: what is being transferred, and what promises come with it. A quit claim deed answers the second question with “none.” The grantor conveys whatever interest they happen to own — which could be full ownership, a half interest, or in theory nothing at all — and makes no guarantee that the title is clear.
That sounds risky until you remember who actually uses quit claim deeds: a parent deeding land to a child, spouses dividing property after a divorce, or a homeowner retitling the house into a living trust. In each case the grantee already knows exactly what the grantor owns, so warranties add nothing but cost and complexity. When real assurances matter — an arm’s-length sale to a buyer who has no history with the property — a warranty deed is the correct instrument instead.
Once drafted, the deed is signed before a notary, the required Real Estate Sales Validation Form is completed, the deed tax is calculated, and the deed is recorded in the probate office of the county where the property sits. Recording is what protects the new owner against later claims under Alabama’s recording statutes — an unrecorded deed is a problem waiting to happen.
What a Quit Claim Deed Does Not Do
The single most common misunderstanding we correct: a quit claim deed does not remove anyone from the mortgage. The deed transfers ownership; the mortgage is a separate contract with the lender, and the lender’s consent — usually through a refinance — is the only way off of it. Sign away the house without addressing the loan and you can end up owning nothing while still owing everything.
A quit claim deed also provides no guarantee of clear title, does not by itself create survivorship rights between co-owners — Alabama requires express survivorship language — and can carry gift tax and Medicaid consequences when used for estate planning shortcuts. Deeding the house to your kids to “avoid probate” is frequently a mistake; a trust usually does that job better. These are exactly the issues the consultation screens for.
How We Prepare Your Quit Claim Deed
Most deeds go from first call to recorded in a matter of days.
Free Phone Consultation
We confirm a quit claim deed actually fits your situation, flag mortgage, homestead, or tax issues, and quote the $750 flat fee.
Property Information
We pull the legal description from your existing deed — not the tax bill, which is often wrong — and confirm exactly how the current owners hold title.
Drafting
The deed is drafted to Alabama’s execution requirements, with survivorship language included or excluded deliberately — never by accident.
Signing and Notarization
The grantor — and the grantor’s spouse when homestead law requires it — signs before a notary at whichever of our four offices is convenient.
Recording
We complete the Real Estate Sales Validation Form, calculate the deed tax, and record the deed in the probate office of the county where the property lies. You receive the recorded original.
Quit Claim Deeds — Frequently Asked Questions
1.What does a quit claim deed cost at The Harris Firm LLC?
$750 flat — covering drafting, notarization, and recording with the county probate office. The phone consultation is free, and the fee is the same at all four of our offices.
2.Does a quit claim deed remove me from the mortgage?
No. The deed transfers ownership; the mortgage is a separate contract with the lender. Until the loan is refinanced or paid off, both borrowers remain fully liable — even a borrower who no longer owns the property. This is the most important thing to understand before signing.
3.What is the difference between a quit claim deed and a warranty deed?
A warranty deed comes with enforceable promises that the title is good; a quit claim deed comes with none — it simply transfers whatever the grantor owns. Quit claim deeds fit transfers between people who know the property; warranty deeds fit sales where the buyer needs assurances.
4.Does my spouse have to sign the deed too?
If the property is the family homestead, generally yes — Alabama law requires the non-owner spouse’s signature to convey homestead property, and a deed missing it can be invalid. We confirm this at the consultation so the deed is done right the first time.
5.How long does the process take?
Drafting usually takes only a few days once we have your existing deed. Signing takes one visit, and we handle recording immediately after. Probate offices vary in how quickly they return the recorded original, but your rights date from recording, not from the return of the paper.
6.Can I just use a form off the internet?
You can — and probate offices regularly reject or record defective deeds prepared that way. Wrong legal descriptions, missing homestead signatures, botched survivorship language, and skipped validation forms create title problems that cost far more than $750 to fix later. Deeds are cheap insurance done right and expensive litigation done wrong.
Get Your Quit Claim Deed Done Right — $750 Flat
One free phone call confirms the deed you need, flags any mortgage or homestead issues, and gets the process started. Most deeds are recorded within days.
The $750 Flat Fee Includes
✓ Attorney review of your situation and existing deed
✓ Deed drafted to Alabama execution requirements
✓ Notarization at any of our four offices
✓ Real Estate Sales Validation Form and deed tax handling
✓ Recording with the county probate office
✓ The recorded original delivered to you
Call the Office Nearest You
Birmingham — (205) 201-1789
Chelsea — (205) 677-5490
Huntsville — (256) 665-9473
Montgomery — (334) 782-9938
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