Georgia Quitclaim Deed: Step-by-Step Guide (with Free Form Generator)

A Georgia quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor has in real property to another party without warranting the quality of that interest. It's the right tool for transfers between family members, into or out of a trust or LLC, after a divorce, or to clear minor title defects. This guide walks through Georgia's state-specific requirements - witnesses, transfer tax, recording office, and the practical gotchas - and gives you a free interactive form builder at the bottom.

The biggest Georgia-specific thing to know

Georgia requires an attorney to handle real estate closings. Georgia State Bar opinions hold that non-attorney deed preparation is the unauthorized practice of law for arm's-length transactions. Intra-family transfers where parties prepare their own deed (pro se) are generally tolerated but the practice is restricted. For anything beyond a simple family transfer, retain a Georgia real estate attorney.

Georgia requirements at a glance

Subscribing witnesses	2 subscribing witnesses required (Two witnesses required; one may be the notary if Georgia state law permits.)
Notarization	Required (notary acknowledgment block on the deed)
Transfer / documentary tax	$1 per $1,000 of consideration
Recording office	Superior Court Clerk in the county where the property is located
Recording fee	$25
Top margin (page 1)	3 inches
Notarization method	Remote Online Notarization (RON) available, or in-person

Witnesses + notarization

Georgia permits Remote Online Notarization (RON), so the entire signing + notarization can happen via video from anywhere - no need to leave your home.

For witness logistics: the grantor must sign in the physical presence of both witnesses and the notary at the same time. Mailing the deed around for separate signatures is generally not valid.

Transfer / documentary tax

Georgia's Real Estate Transfer Tax (intangible recording tax) is $1 per $1,000 of consideration. Family transfers without consideration are exempt but the PT-61 Real Estate Transfer Tax Declaration must still be filed - the recorder uses it to confirm exemption.

Recording

Once the deed is signed and notarized, you take it (along with any required forms and the recording fee) to the Superior Court Clerk in the county where the property is located. The clerk stamps it with a recording number and date and adds it to the public record. From that moment, the world is on notice that title has transferred. Expect to pay roughly $25.

Witness + notary requirements

Georgia requires two witnesses in addition to the notary (O.C.G.A. § 44-2-21). The notary may serve as one of the two witnesses in some Georgia counties; the safer practice is two separate witnesses plus the notary. The Superior Court Clerk in the county where the property is located records the deed.

Common mistakes

Missing witness signature. Georgia requires 2 subscribing witnesses in addition to the notary. A deed missing this will be rejected.
Street address instead of legal description. Use the legal description verbatim from your existing recorded deed (lot/block/subdivision or metes-and-bounds). Street address alone is not sufficient.
Insufficient top margin. Georgia requires 3 inches on page 1. Browser default print settings cause rejection.
Forgetting the transfer tax declaration. Even when fully exempt, most states require the deed to cite the exemption code or be accompanied by a transfer tax declaration form.
Not updating the county assessor / appraiser. Recording transfers legal title but tax records may need a separate notification to update ownership for property tax purposes.

When NOT to use a Georgia quitclaim

You're selling to a stranger. A quitclaim gives the buyer no chain-of-title protection. Use a warranty deed (or in some states, a special warranty / grant deed) for arm's-length sales. See our comparison.
There's an existing mortgage with a due-on-sale clause. Most modern mortgages let the lender call the loan when title transfers. Talk to the lender first.
Title is contested or there's a dispute among co-owners. A quitclaim doesn't resolve disputes - it can paper over them and create future problems. Resolve the underlying dispute first.
You're not sure you actually own the interest you're conveying. A quitclaim transfers "whatever you have" - if that's nothing, the grantee gets nothing.

Two ways to do this

Have us handle the whole thing

$199 flat. We draft the Georgia-compliant deed, arrange a video notary or in-person mobile notary, file with your county recorder, and email you the recorded copy. Typically 24-72 hours end-to-end.

Start with ClosingDesk

Or use the free generator below

Fill in the fields and download a Georgia-compliant quitclaim deed PDF. You handle the witnesses + notary and county recording yourself. Free, no email required.

Use the free generator ↓

For estate planning purposes, consider whether a Georgia Transfer on Death Deed is a better fit than an outright transfer.

Free Georgia Quitclaim Deed generator

Fill in the fields below and we'll generate a Georgia-compliant quitclaim deed PDF you can print, sign in front of 2 witnesses and a notary, and take to the Superior Court Clerk for recording. Free, no email required.

This guide and the generated form are general information about Georgia deed law, not legal advice. ClosingDesk is a workflow automation service, not a law firm. Georgia-specific issues can have material legal and tax consequences if mishandled. If your situation has any complexity (existing mortgage, contested ownership, divorce in progress, tax planning concerns, parent-child transfers in states with reassessment rules), consult a licensed Georgia real estate attorney before transferring title.