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

A Minnesota 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 Minnesota'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 Minnesota-specific thing to know

Minnesota's State Deed Tax is $1.65 per $500 of consideration ($3.30 per $1,000), one of the more reasonable middle-tier states. Family transfers without consideration are exempt with proper claim on the Deed Tax Affidavit. Minnesota was an early adopter of e-recording.

Minnesota requirements at a glance

Subscribing witnesses	None required
Notarization	Required (notary acknowledgment block on the deed)
Transfer / documentary tax	Deed Tax: $1.65 per $500 of consideration (Hennepin and Ramsey add $5 ERF Fund Fee)
Recording office	County Recorder OR Registrar of Titles (depending on title type) in the county where the property is located
Recording fee	$46
Top margin (page 1)	3 inches
Required forms	Certificate of Real Estate Value (CRV) for sales over $3,000.
Notarization method	Remote Online Notarization (RON) available, or in-person

Witnesses + notarization

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

Transfer / documentary tax

Deed Tax: $1.65 per $500 of consideration (Hennepin and Ramsey add $5 ERF Fund Fee). Even when no money changes hands - "love and affection" transfers between family, transfers into a trust, etc. - some states still charge a minimum tax. Always check the actual amount with the recording office before filing.

Recording

Once the deed is signed and notarized, you take it (along with any required forms and the recording fee) to the County Recorder OR Registrar of Titles (depending on title type) 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 $46.

Common mistakes

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. Minnesota 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota-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 Minnesota-compliant quitclaim deed PDF. You handle the notary and county recording yourself. Free, no email required.

Use the free generator ↓

Minnesota TODD (Minn. Stat. § 507.071, enacted 2008) is a mature TODD statute with extensive case law - one of the strongest TODD frameworks in the Midwest.

Free Minnesota Quitclaim Deed generator

Fill in the fields below and we'll generate a Minnesota-compliant quitclaim deed PDF you can print, sign in front of a notary, and take to the County Recorder OR Registrar of Titles (depending on title type) for recording. Free, no email required.

This guide and the generated form are general information about Minnesota deed law, not legal advice. ClosingDesk is a workflow automation service, not a law firm. Minnesota-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 Minnesota real estate attorney before transferring title.