CAState guide

California quitclaim deed

A California quitclaim deed is recorded with the county recorder, and the recorder will not accept it without a proper notary acknowledgment. The deed itself is simple; the county's transfer tax and reassessment rules are where the cost and the surprises live.

This page covers the signing rule, the recording packet and the questions to ask before transferring a California property between family members.

Written by Nora Whitfield, editorial lead. State rules checked by Samuel Okafor, rules editor, on October 20, 2026.

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Signing rule at a glance

Notary requiredNo witnessesRules cited

California: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

California: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required. Source: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287.

Source: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287 (opens the official source in a new tab).

Notary rule

California Government Code 27287 sets out what the county recorder checks on a conveyance, and Civil Code 1181 supplies the form of the acknowledgment. No witnesses are required for a deed. The grantor signs before a notary, and the notary completes the all-purpose acknowledgment certificate.

Citation: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287 (opens the official source in a new tab).

A deed signed outside California can sometimes be acknowledged under the law of the place where it was signed, but a California recorder may reject a certificate that does not match the California form. Use a California notary when you can.

The grantor's signature must be notarized, not just witnessed.
The acknowledgment must be complete, dated and stamped.
The legal description should match the current deed or title report.
The parcel number helps the recorder and the assessor match the property.

Recording packet

Most California counties require the deed plus a Preliminary Change of Ownership Report when ownership changes. The form asks how the transfer should be treated for property tax purposes. Missing it can add a fee or delay the recording.

The county recorder charges a recording fee, and many counties charge a documentary transfer tax under Revenue and Taxation Code 11911. The tax is usually based on the price, and the rate varies by county and city. Ask the recorder for the current schedule before you mail the packet.

Signed and notarized quitclaim deed
Preliminary Change of Ownership Report
Documentary transfer tax declaration, when the county requires one
Recording fee and a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want the original back

Property tax reassessment

A transfer can trigger reassessment under Proposition 13, which may raise the property tax bill. A transfer between parents and children or grandparents and grandchildren may qualify for an exclusion, but the exclusion is not automatic. A claim form must be filed with the assessor.

The rules for the parent-child exclusion have changed over the years, including limits for a principal residence and for other property. Check the county assessor's current instructions before assuming the old tax base will follow the property.

A quitclaim deed does not avoid a lender's due-on-sale clause. If a mortgage is in place, ask the lender or a real estate attorney before transferring.

After recording

The recorder returns the original or a certified copy with the recording stamp. Keep it with the title documents and give a copy to the grantee. Notify the county assessor if the change of ownership report was not filed with the deed.

If the property is insured, tell the insurer who owns it now. If the grantor still lives there, the homeowner's policy may need to list the new owner and the occupancy in a way the insurer accepts.

Filled sample, California

Quitclaim deed

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

This quitclaim deed is made on October 16, 2026, between Maria L. Alvarez, of 1408 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, TX 78704 (the grantor), and Diego R. Alvarez, of 77 Sunset Trail, San Marcos, TX 78666 (the grantee).

1. Conveyance

The grantor, for the consideration stated below, transfers to the grantee all of the grantor's right, title and interest in the property described in this deed. This is a quitclaim conveyance. The grantor does not covenant or warrant the title, and the grantee takes whatever interest the grantor holds.

2. Property

The property is located at 1408 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, TX 78704, in Travis County, State of California, and is described as follows:

Lot 12, Block C, Bluebonnet Heights, a subdivision in Travis County, Texas, according to the plat recorded in Volume 88, Page 42, Plat Records of Travis County, Texas.

Parcel or tax identification number: 0102030405.

3. Consideration

This transfer is a gift. The consideration stated above is nominal, and the parties intend this deed to record a gift of the grantor's interest.

4. Encumbrances

The property is transferred subject to the following liens, easements, taxes and other encumbrances, which remain attached to the property: Deed of trust recorded in Volume 2210, Page 118, Travis County records. Utility easement along the rear lot line.. The grantor does not release the grantee from any obligation secured by a lien on the property.

5. Grantor's statements

The grantor states that the grantor has the right to transfer the interest described here, that no other person has an interest in the property that the grantor is withholding, and that the grantor is not acting under duress. The grantor makes no other promise about the title.

6. Recording

The parties intend this deed to be recorded in the office of the county recorder or clerk for Travis County, California. The grantee is responsible for recording and for paying the recording fee and any transfer tax that applies. The grantor will sign the documents the recorder requires to complete the transfer.

7. Governing law

The laws of the State of California govern this deed. If any part of this deed is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.

Grantor

Signature

Printed name: Maria L. Alvarez

Date

Notary public signature

My commission expires

Signing requirements: California: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

Source: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287.

Example answers. The builder replaces them and uses the California signature block shown above.

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State where the document will be used

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Step 1 of 3

Who is transferring

The grantor is the person giving up the interest. The grantee is the person receiving it. Copy names from the current deed and photo ID.

Grantor's full name

The current owner, exactly as on the deed.

Grantor's address

Grantee's full name

Grantee's address

Signing in California

Notary requiredRules cited

California: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

Source: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287 (opens the official source in a new tab). Read the California guide

Quitclaim deed

STATE OF CALIFORNIA

1. Conveyance

2. Property

The property is located at 1408 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, TX 78704, in Travis County, State of California, and is described as follows:

Lot 12, Block C, Bluebonnet Heights, a subdivision in Travis County, Texas, according to the plat recorded in Volume 88, Page 42, Plat Records of Travis County, Texas.

Parcel or tax identification number: 0102030405.

3. Consideration

This transfer is a gift. The consideration stated above is nominal, and the parties intend this deed to record a gift of the grantor's interest.

4. Encumbrances

5. Grantor's statements

6. Recording

7. Governing law

The laws of the State of California govern this deed. If any part of this deed is unenforceable, the rest remains in effect.

Grantor

Signature

Printed name: Maria L. Alvarez

Date

Notary public signature

My commission expires

Signing requirements: California: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

Source: Cal. Gov. Code § 27287.

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Questions about the California form

Does a California quitclaim deed need witnesses?

No. California requires a notary acknowledgment, not witness signatures. The builder adds the notary block and leaves witness lines off California deeds.

Will a quitclaim deed between family members avoid reassessment?

Not automatically. A parent-child or grandparent-grandchild exclusion may apply, but a claim form must be filed and the current limits must be met. Check with the county assessor.

Can I prepare and record a California quitclaim deed myself?

Yes, if the deed meets the recording requirements and the transfer is straightforward. A title company or attorney is worth the cost when a mortgage, a trust, a divorce or a tax exclusion is involved.

Not a law firm, not legal advice

PaperDeed is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. We provide self-help templates and general information about signing rules. If you are unsure whether a document fits your situation, talk to a licensed attorney in your state.

Every rule above names its statute or state form, and links to the official text where the state publishes it online. This state guide was updated on October 20, 2026.