Quitclaim deed vs. title transfer?

The general rule for a North Carolina quitclaim deed is that it must be properly (1) signed by all grantors, (2) notarized, and (3) recorded. (Grantees are not required to sign.) In a sense, the notary public serves as a "witness," as indicated by the language in a typical notary block. However, no additional witnesses are required. Anyone who has questions about a North Carolina quitclaim deed should consider consulting with a knowledgeable North Carolina attorney.

Provided you have fully paid the purchase price, you should not have any further obligations as it relates to the Seller. This, however, may depend on whether there are specific terms in the sales agreement that survive the closing. Although your obligations as the new owner of the property to other persons largely depends on the state, in most, if not all states, you will be responsible for paying any taxes or assements to the state, county, or any municipality in which the propery is located subject to any qualifying exemptions. Also, most states impose a general duty on propery owners to avoid and/or discover and warn of certain risks of harm to any guests or persons invited by you to be present on the property depending on how the property is used (e.g., like whether the property is used for residential or commerical purposes). In some states, there may even be a similar, although limited duty to avoid or warn of certain risks of harm to trespassers on the property. A home or property owner's insurance policy will likely provide some protection with respect to the latter. Additionall, a quitclaim deed generally does not provide any protection for the purchaser if there's an issue with the title to the property. Therefore, an owner's title insurance policy may be advisable if you have not already obtained one.

No. You would need to have every owner sign away on their ownership. There is no way to divest people of their property without them knowing absent some kind of fraud. The quitclaim deed doing what you described in the way you described it can be challenged and should be challenged successfully.

A person who inherits property might be subject to taxes. This includes when the person receives a quitclaim deed for the property. However, the person's tax liabilities will ultimately depend in part on the location of the property itself. For legal guidance on the tax implications of inheriting North Carolina property, you might consider consulting with a knowledgeable North Carolina estate and tax planning attorney. Good luck!

Generally, an owner of property and the potential purchaser would use a Quitclaim Deed when there is no need to warrant or guarantee that the property is free and clear of liens. In other words, the seller does not warrant and guarantee that the property is free and clear of any and all liens. A common use would be when the property has been in the family and the transfer of the property is between family members knowing that there are no liens on the property and all taxes have been paid on the property.