If you are adding a spouse to title, removing a former spouse, giving property to a family member, moving real estate into a trust, handling an inheritance, or cleaning up ownership records, a Pennsylvania quitclaim deed may be the document you are looking for.
The deed itself is often the simple part. The details that cause confusion are usually the legal description, notarization, where to record the deed, whether the realty transfer tax applies to your situation, and how much higher the tax runs in cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The good news is that Pennsylvania exempts a wide range of family and estate transfers from its realty transfer tax, though the exemption is a bit more specific than in some other states.
Good News for Many Family Transfers:
Pennsylvania exempts transfers between lineal family members from realty transfer tax. That includes parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren, along with their spouses. Transfers between spouses, divorce-related transfers, transfers under a will or Pennsylvania's inheritance laws, and many no-consideration trust transfers are exempt as well.
One nuance worth flagging: this exemption is built around lineal relationships, so a gift between siblings does not automatically qualify the way a parent-to-child gift does. If your situation doesn't clearly fit an exempt category, it's worth checking with the recorder of deeds before assuming no tax is due.
What You Need Before Filling Out the Deed
Before you start typing names into a deed form, gather the information Pennsylvania recorders of deeds commonly expect.
- Current deed or previously recorded deed
- Grantor's full legal name and mailing address
- Grantee's full legal name, mailing address, and a certified certificate of residence
- Complete legal description of the property, plus the parcel identifier number (UPI)
- Pennsylvania county and municipality where the property is located
- Notary acknowledgment for the grantor's signature
- A statement of consideration, or the exempt relationship stated clearly on the deed
- Form REV-183 (Realty Transfer Tax Statement of Value), if required
- A self-addressed stamped envelope, if recording by mail
- Recording fees and any local transfer tax due
How to Fill Out a Pennsylvania Quitclaim Deed
Step 1: Identify the Correct Recorder of Deeds
Pennsylvania deeds are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the real property is located.
Many counties also require the property's parcel identifier number (UPI) to be certified by the county assessment office before the deed can be recorded, so it helps to line this up in advance.
Step 2: Enter the Grantor Information
The grantor is the current owner transferring their interest in the property.
Use the grantor's full legal name, matching the current deed exactly, since name mismatches are a common reason deeds are rejected.
Step 3: Enter the Grantee Information
The grantee is the person receiving the property interest.
Pennsylvania requires a certified certificate of the grantee's mailing address on the deed, used for future property tax billing.
Step 4: Choose the Ownership Wording Carefully
If there is more than one grantee, be specific about the ownership form, such as tenants in common or joint tenants with right of survivorship. Married couples adding one another to title typically create a tenancy by the entirety, which is recognized specifically for spouses in Pennsylvania.
Step 5: Add the Legal Description
Use the complete legal description from the current deed or a previously recorded deed. Include the property's municipality, county, and parcel identifier number, since Pennsylvania counties rely on this to route and index the deed correctly.
Step 6: State the Consideration and Any Exemption
Include a statement of consideration, which can be a nominal amount for a gift. If the transfer is exempt from realty transfer tax because of the parties' family relationship, clearly state that relationship on the deed itself, such as "This conveyance is a gift from parent to child."
Stating the relationship clearly on the deed can avoid the need to separately file Form REV-183, though some counties ask for it regardless as a matter of local practice.
Step 7: Sign and Notarize the Deed
The grantor must sign the deed, and the signature must be acknowledged before a notary public .
Pennsylvania allows Remote Online Notarization (RON) , which lets you meet with a notary by secure live video instead of traveling to an office.
Before choosing online notarization, confirm your county's recorder of deeds will accept a remotely notarized deed. Learn more on our Remote Online Notarization by State page.
Step 8: Confirm Whether Form REV-183 Is Needed
Form REV-183 generally is not required if the deed states the full actual consideration and is not exempt, or if the deed is exempt because of a clearly stated family relationship. Many counties ask for it anyway as a matter of local practice, so it is worth checking before you submit.
Step 9: Record the Deed
Submit the signed and notarized deed, along with the recording fee and any realty transfer tax due, to the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located.
Formatting matters in Pennsylvania: expect a 3-inch top margin on the first page, at least 1-inch margins elsewhere, and at least 10-point font. If the property spans more than one municipality, the deed must state how the transfer tax divides between them.
Will You Owe Realty Transfer Tax?
For a lot of the situations that bring people to this page, the answer is: often not, but it's worth double-checking exactly who is involved.
Pennsylvania exempts transfers between lineal family members — parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren, along with their spouses — from realty transfer tax. Transfers between spouses, divorce-related transfers, transfers through a will or inheritance, and many trust transfers made without consideration are exempt as well.
The one gap to know about: this exemption is built around lineal relationships, so it does not automatically cover transfers between siblings, cousins, or more distant relatives. If your situation falls outside the exempt categories, the tax generally applies even to a gift.
For transfers that are not exempt, the state charges 1% of the property's value, and most counties and municipalities add roughly another 1% locally, for a combined rate around 2% in many areas. Philadelphia and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) charge notably higher local rates, so if your property is in one of those areas, it's worth checking the current combined rate before you plan your budget.
Pennsylvania Signing and Recording Notes
- Pennsylvania deeds are recorded with the Recorder of Deeds in the county where the property is located.
- The grantor's signature must be notarized.
- Use the complete legal description, including the parcel identifier number (UPI).
- The grantee's mailing address must be certified on the deed.
- Lineal family transfers, spousal transfers, and divorce transfers are generally exempt from transfer tax.
- The family exemption does not automatically extend to siblings or more distant relatives.
- Stating the exempt relationship clearly on the deed can avoid a separate REV-183 filing.
- Philadelphia and Allegheny County charge higher combined transfer tax rates than most other counties.
- Formatting standards, including a 3-inch top margin, are strictly enforced.
- Assuming a quitclaim deed changes responsibility for a mortgage is a common misconception.
Official Pennsylvania Sources
Common Pennsylvania Quitclaim Deed Mistakes
- Recording in the wrong county
- Assuming the family exemption covers siblings or other non-lineal relatives
- Using only the street address instead of the legal description
- Leaving off the parcel identifier number (UPI)
- Forgetting the certified certificate of the grantee's address
- Forgetting that the deed needs a notary acknowledgment
- Not stating the exempt family relationship clearly on the deed
- Overlooking a much higher local transfer tax rate in Philadelphia or Allegheny County
- Missing the 3-inch top margin or other formatting requirements
- Assuming a quitclaim deed changes responsibility for a mortgage
How This Fits Into the Pennsylvania Quitclaim Deed Process
A Pennsylvania quitclaim deed can be a practical way to update ownership, especially for family gifts between parents and children, spousal transfers, trust transfers, and divorce-related transfers.
The key is to prepare the deed carefully, confirm whether your specific relationship qualifies for a transfer tax exemption, notarize it correctly, and record it with the right county recorder, keeping in mind that some counties and cities charge meaningfully more than others.
Pennsylvania Quitclaim Deed FAQ
Where do I record a Pennsylvania quitclaim deed?
Record the deed with the Recorder of Deeds in the Pennsylvania county where the property is located.
Will I owe realty transfer tax if I give my house to a family member?
Often not, but the exemption is specific. Pennsylvania exempts transfers between lineal family members, such as parents, grandparents, children, and grandchildren (and their spouses). A gift between siblings does not automatically qualify.
Does a Pennsylvania quitclaim deed need to be notarized?
Yes. The grantor's signature must be acknowledged before a notary public.
Does Philadelphia or Pittsburgh have higher transfer tax?
Yes. Most counties add about 1% locally on top of the state's 1%, but Philadelphia and Allegheny County (Pittsburgh) charge higher local rates, making their combined totals significantly higher.
Is this legal advice?
No. This page provides general educational information and is not legal advice.