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Virginia Quitclaim Deed Form (2026): Requirements, Notary, Recording Fee

Updated October 11, 2026. Quick answer: The circuit court clerk records a writing once the signer has acknowledged it or it has been proved by two witnesses, so a deed is normally acknowledged before recording. The statewide statutory fee for recording and indexing a document is $18 for 10 or fewer pages, $32 for 11 to 30 pages and $52 for 31 or more pages.

Virginia quitclaim deed at a glance

ItemWhat the documents say
SigningVirginia’s statute sets out a deed form that identifies the parties and the consideration, conveys the property, and ends with the grantor’s signature line. The form read does not mention a seal.
WitnessesThe documents read do not require witnesses to a deed. They do allow the clerk to record a writing on proof by two witnesses in place of the signer’s acknowledgment (Va. Code 55.1-600).
Notary or acknowledgmentThe circuit court clerk records a writing once the signer has acknowledged it or it has been proved by two witnesses, so a deed is normally acknowledged before recording.
Statutory quitclaim formVirginia Code 55.1-300 says a deed may be made in the statutory form, or to the same effect, with the consideration stated as nominal or actual.
Where to record, and the feeClerk of the circuit court of the county or city. The statewide statutory fee for recording and indexing a document is $18 for 10 or fewer pages, $32 for 11 to 30 pages and $52 for 31 or more pages.
State transfer taxThe state recordation tax on a deed is 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of the greater of the consideration or the actual value (the most recent property tax assessment). A separate additional tax of 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof applies when the consideration or value exceeds $100, not counting any lien or encumbrance remaining on the property; the grantor pays it unless the parties arrange for the grantee to pay, and one-half of it goes to the locality. No recordation tax is required on a deed of gift or quitclaim deed between parties when no consideration has passed.
Gift from a parent to a childVa. Code 58.1-811(D) exempts a deed of gift or quitclaim deed from recordation tax when no consideration has passed, and the deed must state that it is such a deed.
Spouse or homesteadNot found in the documents read
SourceVirginia General Assembly (Legislative Information System)

Signing, witnesses and the notary in Virginia

Virginia’s statute sets out a deed form that identifies the parties and the consideration, conveys the property, and ends with the grantor’s signature line. The form read does not mention a seal.

The circuit court clerk records a writing once the signer has acknowledged it or it has been proved by two witnesses, so a deed is normally acknowledged before recording.

Statutory form: Virginia Code 55.1-300 says a deed may be made in the statutory form, or to the same effect, with the consideration stated as nominal or actual.

The text itself:

  • Va. Code 55.1-300 Form of a deed: “Witness the following signature (or signatures).”
  • Va. Code 55.1-300 Form of a deed: “may be made in the following form, or to the same effect”
  • Va. Code 55.1-600 When and where writings recorded: “acknowledged by him, or proved by two witnesses”

If you want a ready-made form

Review LawDepot’s quitclaim deed form

LawDepot builds a quit claim deed from guided questions for your state. Compare the form with the signing, notary and recording rules on this page before you sign anything.

A deed moves title and can change a family’s tax and benefit position. If you need advice about your situation, ask a real estate attorney before choosing a document service.

The link goes to LawDepot, a paid legal-document service, not Clear Money Guide and not a law firm. LawDepot pays Clear Money Guide a commission if you buy a document there, at no extra cost to you. You are under no obligation to buy anything. We are not a law firm and this is not legal advice.

Review LawDepot’s quitclaim deed

Opens on LawDepot. Follow the signing, notary and recording rules for your state.

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Recording: where to file and what it costs

Recording office: Clerk of the circuit court of the county or city. The statewide statutory fee for recording and indexing a document is $18 for 10 or fewer pages, $32 for 11 to 30 pages and $52 for 31 or more pages.

The text itself:

  • Va. Code 17.1-275 Fees collected by clerks of circuit courts: “$18 for an instrument or document consisting of 10 or fewer pages”

Transfer tax and a gift to a family member

The state recordation tax on a deed is 25 cents on every $100 or fraction thereof of the greater of the consideration or the actual value (the most recent property tax assessment). A separate additional tax of 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof applies when the consideration or value exceeds $100, not counting any lien or encumbrance remaining on the property; the grantor pays it unless the parties arrange for the grantee to pay, and one-half of it goes to the locality. No recordation tax is required on a deed of gift or quitclaim deed between parties when no consideration has passed.

Between family members: Va. Code 58.1-811(D) exempts a deed of gift or quitclaim deed from recordation tax when no consideration has passed, and the deed must state that it is such a deed.

The text itself:

  • Va. Code 58.1-801 Deeds generally: “The rate of the tax shall be 25 cents on every $100”
  • Va. Code 58.1-802 Additional tax paid by grantor: “shall be 50 cents for each $500 or fraction thereof”
  • Va. Code 58.1-811 Exemptions: “No recordation tax shall be required for the recordation of any deed”

Other filings the documents mention

A deed claiming a recordation tax exemption must state that it is a deed of gift, quitclaim deed without consideration, or similar.

The clerk may reject a writing unless the consideration and actual value of the property are stated on the first page and any claimed tax exemption is stated on its face.

The text itself:

  • Va. Code 58.1-811 Exemptions: “Such deed shall state therein that it is a deed of gift”
  • Va. Code 17.1-223 Duty of clerk to record writings: “the amount of the consideration and the actual value”

A worked example: a parent deeds the home to an adult child

An illustration, not a return: a parent bought a home for $100,000, and it is worth $300,000 when the parent deeds it to an adult child by quitclaim deed, with no payment. The child later sells it for $350,000. For a gift, federal law says the child’s basis is “the same as it would be in the hands of the donor”, so the basis stays $100,000 and the gain is $250,000 ($350,000 minus $100,000). Had the child received the same home at the parent’s death, when it was worth $300,000, the statute sets the basis at “fair market value of the property at the date of the decedent’s”, so the gain would be $50,000 ($350,000 minus $300,000). Federal gift tax filing rules are outside this page and outside the documents read.

Read the Virginia transfer-tax rule above for the state side of the same transfer. See CMG’s quitclaim vs warranty deed for a family transfer page for the choice of deed.

What the documents do not say

  • Whether Virginia requires witnesses on a deed: the documents read do not require them for a signature, but Va. Code 55.1-600 lets the clerk record a writing proved by two witnesses in place of an acknowledgment.
  • Whether a spouse must join in the deed: not found in the documents read.
  • County or city transfer taxes and local recording surcharges were not read unless named above.

Common mistakes

  • Assuming the Virginia transfer-tax exemption for family gifts also removes the federal basis consequence shown in the example.
  • Assuming the answer for one state applies to another, or that signing a deed ends the paperwork before recording.

Related: quitclaim deeds by state, quitclaim vs warranty deed for a family transfer, Virginia transfer on death deed, Virginia probate cost, and whether Virginia has an estate tax.

Sources

Sources: the primary documents linked above, read on October 11, 2026. General information, not tax advice. Your own facts decide the outcome, and a tax professional or the state agency itself is the right place to confirm anything consequential.