A quitclaim deed—also known as a quitclaim—is a deed that transfers whatever interest the grantor (purported owner) has in a piece of real property to the grantee (buyer)—but does not represent or warrant that the grantor’s title (ownership) is valid (that the grantor has any ownership interest in it) or free from liens or encumbrances.

A quitclaim deed only purports to convey the grantor’s present interest in the land (if any) and does not purport to convey the land itself. Thus, if the grantor were to acquire an interest in the land after executing (signing) a quitclaim deed, the grantor would retain that interest, as the grantor did not have it at the time the grantor executed the quitclaim deed.

In West Virginia (WV), a quitclaim deed is a legal instrument used to transfer a grantor's rights, title, and interest in a property to a grantee, without any warranties of title. The grantor of a quitclaim deed in WV does not guarantee that they hold valid ownership of the property or that the property is free from other claims, such as liens or encumbrances. Essentially, the grantee receives whatever interest the grantor may have at the time of the transfer, which could be full ownership, partial interest, or none at all. It is important to note that if the grantor acquires any interest in the property after the quitclaim deed has been executed, this interest would not transfer to the grantee, as the deed only covers the grantor's interest at the time of signing. Quitclaim deeds are often used among family members or to clear up title issues, but they are not typically used in situations where the property is being sold, as they do not provide the buyer with any guarantee of clear title.