What Colorado Expects Before It Will Record Your Deed
A Colorado county clerk and recorder can send a deed back over any one of a handful of requirements. Here's what has to be right before you file.
Notarized Acknowledgment
Colorado requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public before a county clerk and recorder will accept a deed for recording. No additional witnesses are needed beyond the notary, and the grantee doesn't have to sign at all. Colorado has permitted remote online notarization (RON) on a permanent basis since Senate Bill 20-096 took effect on December 31, 2020 (C.R.S. § 24-21-514.5) — see our notary page for details.
Grantee's Full Mailing Address
The deed should state the complete mailing address of the person or entity receiving the property, not just their name. Leaving it off doesn't void the deed under Colorado law (C.R.S. § 38-30-113), but it's a small detail that's easy to overlook and a common, entirely avoidable reason a county clerk and recorder sends a deed back for correction.
A Real Property Transfer Declaration
Unlike many states, Colorado requires a separate Real Property Transfer Declaration (TD-1000) to accompany most deeds when they're filed, signed by the buyer or seller. This is a distinct form with its own signature, not a box you check on the deed itself — it's a real, separate step, not optional paperwork you can skip.
Legal Description
A mailing address alone won't satisfy a Colorado county clerk and recorder — the deed needs the property's full legal description. See our guide to finding your legal description if you don't have it on hand.
Paper Size and Format
Colorado accepts documents printed on either letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) or legal-size (8.5 x 14 inch) paper. State law sets the physical formatting too: a top margin of at least one inch and left, right, and bottom margins of at least one-half inch (C.R.S. § 30-10-406), with clear black print. A county clerk and recorder can refuse a document that doesn't conform, so it's worth checking before you print and sign.
Recording Fee and Documentary Fee
Colorado's recording fee is set by state statute — a flat rate per document. On top of that, Colorado charges a separate documentary fee calculated as a small percentage of the sale price, which functions similarly to a transfer tax in other states. Your county clerk and recorder can confirm the current amounts.
E-Recording Varies by County
Many Colorado counties accept e-recording through vendors like Simplifile or CSC, but this isn't available everywhere in the state yet. Check your county's page to see what that office currently supports.
Constructive Notice and the Recorder's Discretion
Once recorded, a deed gives constructive notice of the transfer to everyone else -- Colorado's recording statute (C.R.S. § 38-35-109) is what makes an unrecorded deed vulnerable to a later buyer or lienholder who records first, which is the whole reason recording matters. County clerks and recorders also have the discretion to refuse a document that doesn't meet the applicable requirements (C.R.S. § 30-10-406), so getting the details right the first time saves a trip back.
Recording Office
Every Colorado deed is recorded with the elected County Clerk and Recorder for the county where the property sits — this dual title is the consistent, statewide name for the office. Find your county's exact office name, address, and hours here.
FAQs About Quitclaim Deed Recording in Colorado
What paper size does Colorado require for a quitclaim deed?
Colorado accepts either letter-size (8.5 x 11 inch) or legal-size (8.5 x 14 inch) paper. State law also requires a one-inch top margin and half-inch side and bottom margins (C.R.S. § 30-10-406), so leave enough white space for the recording stamp.
Does the deed need the grantee's mailing address?
It should. Colorado law says a missing address doesn't invalidate the deed, but including the grantee's full mailing address avoids one of the more common, easily-fixed reasons a county clerk and recorder sends a deed back.
Does Colorado charge a real estate transfer tax?
Colorado doesn't have a traditional transfer tax, but it does charge a documentary fee calculated as a small percentage of the sale price, separate from the flat recording fee -- your county clerk and recorder can confirm the current rate.
Is notarization required to record a quitclaim deed in Colorado?
Yes. Colorado requires the grantor's signature to be acknowledged before a notary public before the county clerk and recorder can accept the deed for recording. No additional witnesses are required, and the grantee doesn't need to sign.
What is Colorado's Real Property Transfer Declaration (TD-1000)?
It's a separate form that must accompany most deeds when they're filed, signed by the buyer or seller, reporting details about the transfer. Your county clerk and recorder's office can provide the current form and confirm whether your situation qualifies for an exemption.
How is Colorado's recording fee calculated?
Colorado's recording fee is set by state statute and charged as a flat rate per document, separate from the documentary fee described above. Your county clerk and recorder can provide the current fee schedule.
Can a quitclaim deed be e-recorded in Colorado?
It depends on the county. Many Colorado counties accept e-recording through vendors like Simplifile or CSC, but availability isn't universal statewide -- check your county's page or call ahead.
What does "recording" a deed actually accomplish?
Recording gives constructive notice of the transfer to everyone else, which is what protects the new owner if someone else later tries to claim an interest in the same property. An unrecorded deed is still valid between grantor and grantee, but a later buyer or lienholder who records first can get priority.