Free Illinois Quitclaim Deed Form

Yes. Illinois requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public before the deed can be recorded (765 ILCS 5/20). No witnesses are required — notarization alone satisfies the acknowledgment requirement. Online notarization is accepted in Illinois, so you can get your deed notarized remotely through a service like NotaryLive.

If the property being transferred is the grantor's primary marital residence or homestead, Illinois law requires the grantor's spouse to sign the deed to release homestead and marital rights (765 ILCS 5/11). Without the spouse's signature, the transfer may be voidable as to the homestead interest. Our form automatically includes a homestead waiver clause and spouse signature block when you indicate that the property is the grantor's homestead.

Form PTAX-203 (Real Estate Transfer Declaration), or its online equivalent MyDec, is required for all recorded deeds unless a valid statutory exemption applies under 35 ILCS 200/31-45. The form calculates the state and county real estate transfer taxes based on the consideration amount. Common exemptions include transfers between spouses, transfers pursuant to court order, and certain trust transfers. If claiming an exemption, identify the specific statutory category on the deed face or on the PTAX-203. Filing is required even for exempt transfers.

The PIN (Permanent Index Number, also called Parcel Identification Number) is Illinois's parcel identification system, similar to a tax map key number in other states. It uniquely identifies each parcel for property tax purposes. The PIN is required for the PTAX-203/MyDec filing and is part of the standard county recording workflow in Illinois. Find your PIN on your property tax bill, county assessor records, or the prior recorded deed.

Illinois deeds record with the County Recorder's Office (or Recorder of Deeds) in the county where the property is located. Each county has its own recording office, recording fee schedule, and potentially additional requirements. Cook County has additional recording requirements beyond the statewide baseline — confirm current Cook County requirements before filing. Recording fees vary by county and are typically based on page count.

Illinois imposes both a state real estate transfer tax and a county real estate transfer tax. The state tax is $0.50 per $500 of consideration (or fraction thereof). The county tax is $0.25 per $500. Some municipalities also impose a local transfer tax — confirm whether your municipality requires a local transfer stamp before recording. Transfer tax stamps are purchased from the county recorder at the time of recording. If the transfer is exempt, identify the exemption on the deed or PTAX-203.

Illinois grantees may hold title as Tenants in Common, Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship, or — for married couples only — Tenancy by the Entirety. Joint tenancy must be expressly stated as such in the deed. If the deed is silent, Illinois law presumes tenancy in common. Our form prompts for vesting selection whenever two or more grantees are added.

Cook County may require additional grantor/grantee identity statements for tax-exempt deeds or land-trust assignments, beyond the standard statewide requirements. Cook County also processes all deeds through its own PTAX-203 filing workflow. Confirm current Cook County Recorder of Deeds requirements before submitting — requirements can change and specific transaction types may have additional documentation needs.

No. An Illinois quitclaim deed conveys only whatever interest the grantor currently holds in the property, with no warranty of title. The grantor makes no guarantees about the quality or extent of their interest. This makes quitclaim deeds appropriate for transfers between family members, corrections to prior recorded deeds, trust transfers, and similar situations where the parties know and trust each other.