Step-by-Step Guide to Recording Quitclaim Deeds
Montana's document-formatting rules are set by the Montana Code Annotated: MCA § 7-4-2636
Margin and Format Requirements
To be accepted for recording, a deed presented to a Montana county clerk and recorder must meet these standards:
- Paper: 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 inches, white paper.
- Ink: All text, signatures, dates, and handwritten additions must be legibly printed or typed in blue or black ink.
- Margins: at least 3 inches at the top of the first page; at least 1 inch at the top of every later page; at least 1 inch on the bottom of every page; at least 0.5 inch on the sides of every page.
- Return address: the name and mailing address of the person the document should be returned to must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, within the side margins.
- Grantor/grantee names: must appear on the first or second page, along with a complete legal description of the property.
Notarial acknowledgments and seals are exempt from the margin and ink-color rules, and instruments executed before April 28, 2007 must be accepted regardless of formatting.
Notarization
A Montana quitclaim deed must be signed and acknowledged before a notary public or other authorized official. Montana recognizes acknowledgments taken by notaries in other states, and also permits remote online notarization (RON) — the notary must be physically located in Montana at the time of the signing, but the signer may be anywhere. See our notary information page for details, or notarize a deed online directly through our online notary partner.
Realty Transfer Certificate
Montana law requires a completed Realty Transfer Certificate (Form RTC) to accompany every deed submitted for recording — county clerks cannot accept a deed without one. This applies even to transfers, like most gifts and family transfers, that don't require disclosing the sale price. Read our full guide to the Realty Transfer Certificate for exemption details and a link to the official form.
No State Transfer Tax
Montana does not impose a state or local real property transfer tax on deed transfers — the Realty Transfer Certificate above is a disclosure form for property-tax purposes, not a tax itself.
Recording Fee
Montana's document recording fee is set by state law and is the same in every county: $20 for the first page, $10 for each additional page (MCA § 7-4-2637). Some counties may charge modest additional fees for non-compliant documents — check your county's page for details.
FAQs About Quitclaim Deed Recording
What size and margin requirements apply to Montana quitclaim deeds?
Documents must be printed on 8.5 x 11 or 8.5 x 14 inch white paper, in blue or black ink, and legibly printed or typed. The first page needs at least a 3-inch top margin; later pages need at least a 1-inch top margin. All pages need at least a 1-inch bottom margin and a 0.5-inch side margin (MCA 7-4-2636).
Does Montana require a return-address statement on the deed?
Yes. The name and mailing address of the person the recorded document should be returned to must appear in the upper left-hand corner of the first page, within the side margins (MCA 7-4-2636).
Is a Realty Transfer Certificate required to record a Montana quitclaim deed?
Yes. Montana county clerks cannot accept a deed for recording without an executed Realty Transfer Certificate (Form RTC) submitted with it (MCA 15-7-305). The certificate itself is always required, even for transfers — like many gifts and family transfers — that are exempt from disclosing the sale price. Read our full guide.
Does Montana charge a real estate transfer tax on a quitclaim deed?
No. Montana does not impose a state or local real property transfer tax on deed transfers. The Realty Transfer Certificate is a disclosure form for property tax purposes, not a tax itself.
What happens if my Quitclaim Deed is rejected?
Rejections are usually due to formatting, margin, or missing-information issues, and the clerk will typically explain the reason so the deed can be corrected and resubmitted. Read our full guide.
Can a Quitclaim Deed be recorded online in Montana?
Many, but not all, Montana counties support electronic recording (e-recording) through vendors such as Simplifile and CSC. Availability varies by county, and in some counties e-recording is primarily used by title companies and attorneys rather than individual filers — check your county's page for details.