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Free Wisconsin Quit Claim Deed Form
Use this free Wisconsin quit claim deed form to transfer real property. Fill out the form online, download your deed, and have it notarized before recording with the Register of Deeds for the county where the property is located.
This form leaves the 3 inch by 3 inch recorder's space required on page 1 (section 59.43(2m)(a)3) genuinely blank, tracks the homestead spouse joinderrequired when a married Grantor's (or attorney-in-fact principal's) homestead is conveyed (section 706.02(1)(f)), and prints the required drafter statement unconditionally.
Wisconsin Quit Claim Deed Form
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.
Wisconsin Quit Claim Deed Requirements
Before recording a quit claim deed in Wisconsin, make sure the document meets these requirements:
- ✓Grantor's signature must be acknowledged before a notary public (section 140.15, 140.16(2))
- ✓Uses "quit claims to" language per the statutory quitclaim form (section 706.10(1), (4)) - never "grant, bargain and sell"
- ✓A blank 3 inch by 3 inch space is reserved in the upper right corner of page 1 for the register of deeds (section 59.43(2m)(a)3)
- ✓The instrument title must appear between 0.5 inch and 6 inches from the top of page 1, outside the reserved corner
- ✓A Real Estate Transfer Return must be filed at recording, with a narrow no-return exception under section 77.255
- ✓If the property is the Grantor's homestead and the Grantor (or an attorney-in-fact's principal) is a married individual, the spouse must join the deed to release homestead rights (section 706.02(1)(f))
- ✓Never include a Social Security number anywhere on the deed (section 59.43(1m)(a))
- ✓Record with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located - Wisconsin has 72 counties
- ✓A drafter statement identifying who drafted the instrument is always printed on the deed
After You Record Your Deed in Wisconsin
After the register of deeds records your deed, the original is returned to the address you provide. The Real Estate Transfer Return is forwarded to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the local assessor uses the recorded deed to update property tax ownership records - confirm your mailing address with the local assessor so future tax statements are addressed correctly.
Common Uses for a Quit Claim Deed in Wisconsin
Wisconsin quit claim deeds are commonly used to transfer property between spouses in connection with marriage or divorce, and to gift property from parents to adult children. Estate planning transfers into revocable living trusts are common, and parents transfer lake homes, farms, and other real estate to children and grandchildren.
Wisconsin Quit Claim Deed FAQ
Does a quit claim deed need to be notarized in Wisconsin?
Yes. Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin.
Where do I record a quit claim deed in Wisconsin?
You file the deed with the Register of Deeds in the county where the property is located. Wisconsin has 72 counties, each with its own Register of Deeds.
What is the blank space in the upper right corner of my deed?
Section 59.43(2m)(a)3 requires every first page of a recorded document to leave a blank 3 inch by 3 inch space in the upper right corner for the register of deeds to use. Our form leaves this space genuinely empty - nothing is ever printed there.
What is the homestead spouse signature, and when does my deed need one?
Section 706.02(1)(f) requires a married Grantor's spouse to join the deed when the property being conveyed is the Grantor's homestead, to release the spouse's homestead rights, unless the Grantee receiving the property is that same spouse. Our form asks whether the property is a homestead and, if the Grantor is a married individual (or, on an attorney-in-fact conveyance, the principal is a married individual), collects the spouse's name and email for a separate signature and acknowledgment - unless a Co-Grantor on the deed is confirmed to already be that same spouse.
Is there a transfer tax in Wisconsin?
Wisconsin charges a Real Estate Transfer Fee of $0.30 per $100 of value, collected through a Real Estate Transfer Return filed at recording. Section 77.255 excuses filing a return only for a narrow set of conveyances - most exemptions still require a return even though no fee is due.
Can an LLC, corporation, trustee, or attorney-in-fact be a Grantor?
Yes. Our Wisconsin form supports an individual, an LLC, a corporation, a trustee, or an attorney-in-fact acting for a principal as the Grantor or Co-Grantor. Wisconsin does not require a corporate seal, so a corporate Grantor executes without one. If a Grantor signs as attorney-in-fact, confirm before recording that the power of attorney is itself recorded and authorizes the conveyance - and, for a homestead conveyance, that it grants the authority Wisconsin expects.
What is a legal description and where do I find it in Wisconsin?
A legal description is the formal identification of real property used in all recorded deeds. Wisconsin uses government survey descriptions (township, range, and section) for rural property and lot and block numbers for platted subdivision property. You can find the legal description on your current deed, your title insurance commitment, or through the county register of deeds' or assessor's website. A street address alone is not sufficient.
What happens after I record my quit claim deed in Wisconsin?
After the register of deeds records your deed, the original is returned to the address you provide. The Real Estate Transfer Return is forwarded to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue, and the local assessor updates property tax ownership records based on the recorded deed.
What to Bring When Recording Your Wisconsin Quitclaim Deed
Before you go to the register of deeds, make sure you have everything on this list to avoid delays. The last item applies only in Waukesha County.
- 1A Real Estate Transfer Return must be filed with the register of deeds at the time the deed is recorded. Section 77.255 excuses filing a return only for conveyances exempt under section 77.25(1) (a gift or a transfer for no consideration to certain related parties) or section 77.25(10m) (a conveyance between a business entity and its own owners in connection with an entity conversion) - every other conveyance, including most other exemptions, still requires a return even when no fee is due.
- 2A real estate transfer fee of $0.30 per $100 (or fraction of $100) of the value of the real estate transferred is due at recording unless the conveyance is exempt under section 77.25.
- 3The county register of deeds charges a $30 flat recording fee for a standard deed. Confirm the current fee with the register of deeds before you go, since fee schedules change.
- 4Waukesha County: Waukesha County requires either a paper submission with a self-addressed return envelope or a return email address, so the recorded original (or its electronic confirmation) can be sent back to you. Confirm the current submission requirement with the Waukesha County Register of Deeds before you go.
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