ILState guide

Illinois quitclaim deed

An Illinois quitclaim deed is recorded with the county recorder, and the county will not accept it without a notarized signature and the right transfer paperwork. The deed is short, but the Real Estate Transfer Declaration and the transfer tax are part of the packet.

This page explains the signing rule, the recording packet and the property tax points that matter when a home moves between family members or former spouses.

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

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

Illinois: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required. Source: 765 ILCS 5/20.

Source: 765 ILCS 5/20 (opens the official source in a new tab).

Notary rule

Illinois law requires a deed to be in writing, signed by the grantor and acknowledged before a notary. No witnesses are required for a deed. The notary completes the certificate, and the recorder checks that the certificate matches the grantor's name.

Citation: 765 ILCS 5/20 (opens the official source in a new tab).

Do not sign the deed at home and have it notarized days later unless the notary is willing to take an acknowledgment. Most notaries must see the signature or speak with the signer. A defective acknowledgment is one of the most common reasons a recorder rejects a deed.

The grantor signs in front of the notary.
The notary certificate names the county and state.
The legal description matches the current deed.
The deed names a grantee and a mailing address for tax bills.

The Real Estate Transfer Declaration

Most Illinois deeds must be accompanied by a Real Estate Transfer Declaration (form PTAX-203) that states the price, the parties and the reason for any exemption. The recorder uses the form to collect the state and county transfer tax. A deed filed without it is usually returned.

Illinois charges a state transfer tax of 50 cents for each $500 of consideration, and many counties add 25 cents for each $500. Some home rule counties and the City of Chicago charge more. The declaration has a line for an exemption, including a transfer between spouses or a transfer that is not a sale.

The declaration is not the same as the deed. Keep a copy of the signed declaration with the recorded deed and the closing file.

Gifts, spouses and the exemption line

A transfer between spouses, or a transfer that is not a sale, can claim an exemption from the Illinois transfer tax on the declaration. The exemption is not automatic. The form asks for the relationship and the reason, and the recorder may ask for a copy of the divorce judgment, the death certificate or another document that supports the claim.

A gift to a child or a transfer into a trust may still be taxable if the exemption does not fit. Do not leave the price blank or write zero without an explanation. A declaration that does not match the deed invites a review and can delay the recording while the county asks for another form.

Recording and property tax

Record the deed with the county recorder in the county where the property is located. The recorder returns the original or a copy with a document number and a recording date. Send a copy to the county assessor so the ownership record and the exemption record follow the transfer.

A transfer can affect a homeowner exemption, a senior freeze or a long-time occupant exemption. The new owner may need to apply, and an old exemption may be removed. A quitclaim deed does not change the assessed value by itself, but the assessor's records do need to match the deed.

Recorded deed with the county recorder
Signed Real Estate Transfer Declaration
Transfer tax payment or a claimed exemption
Copy to the assessor and the insurer

When a quitclaim deed is the wrong choice

A buyer with a mortgage usually needs a warranty deed and title insurance. A title company may refuse to insure a quitclaim transfer, or it may add an exception for the lack of warranty. If the goal is a sale for value, ask the title company which deed it will accept before anyone signs.

A quitclaim deed also cannot clear a lien, settle an estate or remove a borrower from a loan. Those problems need a release, a probate order or a refinance. A deed that ignores them can leave the grantee with a title that is hard to sell.

Filled sample, Illinois

Quitclaim deed

STATE OF ILLINOIS

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 Illinois, 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, Illinois. 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 Illinois 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: Illinois: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

Source: 765 ILCS 5/20.

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

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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 Illinois

Notary requiredRules cited

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

Source: 765 ILCS 5/20 (opens the official source in a new tab). Read the Illinois guide

Quitclaim deed

STATE OF ILLINOIS

1. Conveyance

2. Property

The property is located at 1408 Bluebonnet Lane, Austin, TX 78704, in Travis County, State of Illinois, 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 Illinois 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: Illinois: A notary acknowledgment is required. No witnesses are required.

Source: 765 ILCS 5/20.

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Questions about the Illinois form

Does an Illinois quitclaim deed need witnesses?

No. Illinois requires the grantor's notarized acknowledgment, not witness signatures. The builder adds the notary block and leaves witness lines off Illinois deeds.

What is the Illinois transfer tax on a quitclaim deed?

The state tax is 50 cents for each $500 of consideration, and counties commonly add 25 cents for each $500. Some home rule areas charge more. The Real Estate Transfer Declaration calculates the tax and claims any exemption.

Do I need a lawyer to record an Illinois deed?

You can prepare and record a straightforward deed yourself if you have the legal description and the transfer declaration. A title company or attorney is worth the cost when a mortgage, an estate, a trust or a tax exemption 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.