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Free Quit Claim Deed Form — Missouri
Use this free Missouri quit claim deed form to transfer real property between individuals, family members, corporations, or trusts. Deeds are recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located (the City of St. Louis has its own Recorder of Deeds). Missouri has no state real estate transfer tax, making it one of the more straightforward states for deed recording.
Common Uses for a Quit Claim Deed in Missouri
Missouri quit claim deeds are commonly used to transfer property between spouses in connection with divorce or marriage, to gift real estate from parents to adult children, and to move property into revocable living trusts for estate planning. Missouri farmland transfers between family generations are frequent. Real estate investors use quit claim deeds to transfer property between individually owned and LLC-owned accounts. Correcting a prior deed error or clearing a title cloud from an old estate are also common uses across the state.
Missouri Quit Claim Deed Form
Missouri Quit Claim Deed Form
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Your deed needs to be notarized before recording
All quit claim deeds must be notarized to be legally valid. Notarize online from your phone or computer — no travel required, available 24/7.
Missouri Quit Claim Deed Requirements
Before recording a quit claim deed in Missouri, make sure the document meets these requirements:
- ✓Deed must be in writing and signed by the grantor(s)
- ✓Grantor's signature must be acknowledged before a notary public
- ✓Property must be identified by its legal description
- ✓Deed must name the grantor(s) and grantee(s) by full legal name
- ✓Must be recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds in the county of the property
- ✓No state real estate transfer tax in Missouri
- ✓Recording fees are paid at time of filing
After You Record Your Deed in Missouri
After the County Recorder of Deeds records your deed, the original is returned to the grantee or the designated address. Recording times and fees vary by county. The Recorder updates the public land records, and the county assessor uses the recorded deed to update property tax ownership information. Missouri property taxes are assessed by county assessors and collected by county collectors. The grantee should confirm their mailing address with the county collector to ensure future tax statements are addressed correctly. The grantee is responsible for Missouri property taxes from the date of transfer.
Missouri Quit Claim Deed FAQ
Does a quit claim deed need to be notarized in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public before the deed can be recorded. Online notarization through a service like NotaryLive is accepted in Missouri.
Where do I record a quit claim deed in Missouri?
You file the deed with the County Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located. The City of St. Louis is an independent city and has its own Recorder of Deeds separate from St. Louis County. Missouri has 114 counties and the City of St. Louis. Recording fees vary by jurisdiction.
Is there a transfer tax in Missouri?
No. Missouri does not impose a state real estate transfer tax. The only cost at recording is the county recording fee, which is typically based on the number of pages. This makes Missouri one of the less expensive states in which to record a deed.
Can I use a quit claim deed to transfer property to a family member in Missouri?
Yes. Family transfers are straightforward in Missouri because there is no transfer tax. Common uses include divorce transfers, parent-to-child gifts, and transfers into revocable living trusts. The recording fee is the only cost beyond deed preparation.
What is a legal description and where do I find it in Missouri?
A legal description is the formal identification of real property used in all recorded deeds. Missouri uses government survey descriptions (township, range, and section) for rural property and lot and block numbers for subdivision property. You can find the legal description on your current deed, your title insurance commitment, or through the county recorder's or assessor's website. A street address alone is not sufficient.
What happens after I record my quit claim deed in Missouri?
After the Recorder of Deeds records your deed, the original is returned to the grantee. The public land records are updated, and the county assessor is notified to update property tax ownership records. Missouri property taxes are paid in arrears, so the grantee may receive a tax bill for the full year even if the transfer occurred partway through the year. Contact the county collector to update billing address and arrange any pro-rated payment.
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