Ellen gives Frank a quitclaim deed to a Minnesota parcel in which she holds no interest. A year later Ellen acquires title to that parcel. The deed contains no words about after-acquired title. Under Minn. Stat. 507.07, who holds the newly acquired title?

Ellen, as a quitclaim does not pass after-acquired title

Neither, until a corrective deed is recorded

Frank, because her later title passes to him automatically

Frank and Ellen together, as tenants in common

A quitclaim deed is used to release a possible claimant's interest. Does that deed necessarily assure the recipient that valid title exists?

No, it does not provide that general assurance

No, because quitclaims can never transfer an existing interest

Yes, the grantor guarantees ownership merely by signing a quitclaim

Yes, recording converts a quitclaim into a general warranty

A bargain and sale deed without covenants:

Implies that the grantor holds title but contains no warranties of title

Warrants the title against all claims from any source whatsoever

Conveys only whatever interest the grantor may have, implying no ownership at all

May be executed only by a court-appointed officer or fiduciary

A deed executed solely to fix a misspelled name or an error in the legal description contained in an earlier deed is a:

Trustee deed given at foreclosure

Exam vocabulary · deed

What Is Quitclaim Deed in Real Estate?

Definition

A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the grantor happens to hold, with no warranties at all and no promise that any interest exists. That is why it is used to clear a cloud on title, add or remove a spouse, or convey between family, and almost never in an arms-length sale.

How the exam tests quitclaim deed

These mirror the phrasing you will see on test day. Answer them, then read the explanation whether or not you got it right.

Quitclaim Deed: exam questions1/5

Transfer of title

A quitclaim deed is most commonly used to:

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Every quitclaim deed question, answered

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1. A quitclaim deed is most commonly used to:
- ARelease a possible interest and remove a cloud on the titlecorrect
- BSecure a loan using the property as collateral
- CTransfer title to a devisee through a probate sale supervised by the court
- DConvey title with full covenants of warranty
Why: A quitclaim deed carries no warranties, so its practical use is to "Release a possible interest and remove a cloud on the title". It cannot secure a loan, which requires a mortgage or deed of trust rather than a conveyance.
Transfer of title
2. Ellen gives Frank a quitclaim deed to a Minnesota parcel in which she holds no interest. A year later Ellen acquires title to that parcel. The deed contains no words about after-acquired title. Under Minn. Stat. 507.07, who holds the newly acquired title?
- ANeither, until a corrective deed is recorded
- BFrank, because her later title passes to him automatically
- CEllen, as a quitclaim does not pass after-acquired titlecorrect
- DFrank and Ellen together, as tenants in common
Why: Minn. Stat. 507.07 says a quitclaim conveys "all right, title, and interest of the grantor in the premises described, but shall not extend to after acquired title, unless words expressing such intention be added." Ellen had nothing to convey when she signed, so Frank received nothing and her later title stays with her. Automatic pass-through of later title is how a warranty deed works by estoppel, which is the trap.
Transfer of title
3. A quitclaim deed is used to release a possible claimant's interest. Does that deed necessarily assure the recipient that valid title exists?
- ANo, because quitclaims can never transfer an existing interest
- BNo, it does not provide that general assurancecorrect
- CYes, the grantor guarantees ownership merely by signing a quitclaim
- DYes, recording converts a quitclaim into a general warranty
Why: A quitclaim can transfer or release the grantor's interest without the same title assurances as a warranty conveyance. Its usefulness does not imply a title guarantee.
Transfer of title
4. A bargain and sale deed without covenants:
- AImplies that the grantor holds title but contains no warranties of titlecorrect
- BWarrants the title against all claims from any source whatsoever
- CConveys only whatever interest the grantor may have, implying no ownership at all
- DMay be executed only by a court-appointed officer or fiduciary
Why: This deed "Implies that the grantor holds title but contains no warranties of title", placing it between a warranty deed and a quitclaim. Conveying only a possible interest with no implication of ownership describes a quitclaim deed.
Transfer of title
5. A deed executed solely to fix a misspelled name or an error in the legal description contained in an earlier deed is a:
- ASpecial warranty deed
- BTrustee deed given at foreclosure
- CQuitclaim deed
- DCorrection deedcorrect
Why: An instrument whose only job is to repair a prior deed is a "Correction deed", also called a deed of confirmation or reformation. A quitclaim deed is used to release an interest rather than to restate a corrected description.
Transfer of title

Where quitclaim deed sits in the exam vocabulary

Quitclaim Deed is a deed, and so are general warranty deed and special warranty deed. That matters more than it sounds: a multiple-choice item builds its wrong answers out of siblings like these, because they are the options that look plausible to someone who has learned the category but not the distinction. If quitclaim deed appears as the correct answer, expect to see general warranty deed and special warranty deed on the same screen.

The exam most often tries to catch you by putting quitclaim deed next to general warranty deed and special warranty deed. Each of those is a real concept sitting close enough to be tempting, and the question usually turns on the single feature that separates them rather than on the definition of either one. Read the contrast, not the term.

Related exam terms

Tested alongside

Often confused with

Quitclaim Deed belongs to the deed family of exam concepts. When it is solid, take the free real estate exam prep or browse the full real estate exam vocabulary.