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Georgia Deed Types, Compared

Quitclaim, limited warranty, general warranty, and transfer-on-death. Four deeds, four different jobs. Here's exactly when to use each one.

The deed type you need depends on one question: do the parties trust each other? Between family, spouses, or an owner moving property into their own trust or LLC, a quitclaim is fast and cheap. In a sale to a stranger, you want a warranty deed that guarantees clear title. And to pass a home to an heir at death without probate, you want a transfer-on-death deed. Every one of these is a flat $ 249 with us.

The four Georgia deed types

  • Quitclaim Deed →

    Transfers whatever interest the owner has — with no warranty of clear title.

    Best for:
    Divorce, adding/removing a spouse, gifts to family, moving property to your own trust or LLC, name corrections.
    Title warranty:
    None

  • Limited Warranty Deed →

    Guarantees clear title only for the period the current owner held the property.

    Best for:
    Sales where the seller will only stand behind their own ownership period — common with builders, banks, and investors.
    Title warranty:
    Partial (grantor’s ownership only)

  • General Warranty Deed →

    Guarantees clear title all the way back through the property’s entire history.

    Best for:
    Traditional arm’s-length home sales between a buyer and seller who don’t know each other.
    Title warranty:
    Full (entire title history)

  • Transfer-on-Death Deed →

    Names a beneficiary who inherits the property at your death — no probate, no lifetime transfer.

    Best for:
    Estate planning: passing a home to an heir while keeping full control and your homestead exemption during life.
    Title warranty:
    N/A (takes effect at death)

Side-by-side comparison

  Quitclaim Limited Warranty General Warranty Transfer-on-Death
Transfers ownership now ✓ ✓ ✓ At death only
Grantor guarantees clear title ✗ Partial* ✓ (full history) —
Used between family / trust / LLC ✓ — — ✓
Used in a sale between strangers ✗ ✓ ✓ ✗
Avoids probate while you keep ownership for life — — — ✓
Revocable while you’re alive N/A N/A N/A ✓
Cost to prepare with us $249 $249 $249 $249

*Limited warranty covers only the period the grantor owned the property — not earlier owners.

How to choose the right deed

Transferring between people who trust each other? Use a quitclaim deed. Divorce, adding or removing a spouse, gifting the family home, moving property into your own trust or LLC, or fixing a name on the record — a quitclaim does all of these quickly because no title warranty is needed between parties who already trust one another.

Selling to a buyer who needs assurance the title is clean? Use a warranty deed. A general warranty deed guarantees the title all the way back through every prior owner — the standard for a normal home sale. A limited warranty deed guarantees only the time the current seller owned it, which is what builders, banks, and investors typically offer.

Planning to pass your home to an heir at death — without probate? Use a transfer-on-death deed. You keep full ownership and control while you're alive; the property passes to your named beneficiary automatically when you die. Georgia only began recognizing these in 2024 — see our guide to Georgia's transfer-on-death deed law.

Still unsure? That's normal — and it's exactly what our title examiner confirms before anything is filed. Tell us your goal when you order, or book a free 10-minute call.

Common questions about Georgia deed types

What is the most common deed type in Georgia?
For transfers between people who already know and trust each other — spouses, family members, or an owner moving property into their own trust or LLC — the quitclaim deed is by far the most common. For an actual sale between a buyer and seller, a general warranty deed is standard.
What’s the difference between a quitclaim and a warranty deed?
A quitclaim deed transfers whatever interest the owner has with no promises about the title. A warranty deed adds a legal guarantee that the title is clear. A limited warranty covers only the time the current owner held the property; a general warranty covers the entire ownership history. Use a quitclaim when the parties trust each other; use a warranty deed when money is changing hands with someone you don’t know.
Does every Georgia deed cost the same to prepare?
With us, yes — quitclaim, limited warranty, general warranty, and transfer-on-death deeds are all a flat $249. That covers title record review, attorney drafting, the PT-61 transfer form, eFiling, and county recording. The deed type changes the legal language, not our fee.
Which deed avoids probate in Georgia?
Only the transfer-on-death (TOD) deed. It names a beneficiary who receives the property automatically at your death — no probate filing, no court. The other three deed types transfer ownership during your lifetime, so they don’t involve probate either way, but only the TOD deed is built specifically for passing property at death.
Can I switch deed types if I picked the wrong one?
If a deed hasn’t been recorded yet, it’s easy — we just prepare the right one. If it’s already recorded, the fix is to record a new corrective deed. Tell us the situation when you order and our title examiner will confirm the correct deed for your goal before anything is filed.

Related guides

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