Complete Legal Illinois Deed Forms For Free

For a property deed transfer by quitclaim in Illinois, you must use the form that's used in the county where the property is located. If the property is located in a county other than the one in which you live, call the County Recorder of Deeds in the other county to determine the proper quitclaim deed form to use.

A Quit Claim Deed is required to clearly identify the grantor and grantee, the address of the property being transferred, a legal description of the property, the manner in which the grantee is taking title, a notarized signature of the grantor, and the name and address of the party that has prepared the deed.

Each Illinois county has a county recorder who receives deeds for recording and keeps the county's land records. A deed must be filed with the recorder for the county where the property is located. The county clerk serves as recorder in counties with populations under 60,000.

Pros and cons of a quitclaim deed BenefitsDrawbacksQuick and simple process.Doesn't guarantee property ownership.Can transfer property to a family member without going through probate.Rules can vary by state.Transfer is considered a gift, which can reduce estate taxes.Offers no protections for the recipient.

A quitclaim deed doesn't have to be drawn up by a lawyer[3]. You simply download a free form directly from your county clerk's website and submit it on your own. It can offer a property tax benefit.

In addition to the signature of the grantor(s), deeds should be acknowledged. Even though Illinois law does not require acknowledgement, 765 ILCS 5/20 provides several ways to acknowledge a deed, including acknowledgement before a notary public.