The Short Answer

In Pennsylvania, you can prepare and record a deed yourself in some situations, but using a “quitclaim deed” to clean up title after an inheritance is often the wrong tool—especially when the property and probate are tied to North Carolina. If the inherited real estate is located in North Carolina, Pennsylvania recording rules won’t control, and you may need North Carolina-specific probate/title steps (often an ancillary estate process) rather than a Pennsylvania-style deed fix.

What Pennsylvania Law Says

Pennsylvania distinguishes between (1) who owns inherited real estate at death and (2) what must be recorded to make title marketable for future buyers, lenders, and title companies. Under Pennsylvania law, legal title to a decedent’s real estate generally passes at death to the heirs/devisees, but it remains subject to estate administration and court orders—meaning “ownership” and “clean, insurable title” are not always the same thing.

The Statute

The primary law governing how inherited real estate is documented in the land records is 20 Pa.C.S. § 3536.

This statute requires that a certified copy of the adjudication or decree awarding real estate be recorded in the county deed records (and indexed under the decedent and the distributee), which is often what ultimately supports clear title after probate.

Why You Should Speak with an Attorney

Even when a deed seems simple, inheritance-related title transfers can go sideways quickly—especially when you’re mixing a Pennsylvania question with a North Carolina probate/inheritance. Legal outcomes often depend on:

• Strict Deadlines: Pennsylvania has recording-related timing issues in certain contexts (for example, recording decrees affecting real estate). See 20 Pa.C.S. § 3536.
• Burden of Proof: Title companies and recorders often require the right probate document (e.g., a recorded decree/adjudication) rather than a family-generated quitclaim deed that may not match the estate’s distribution or chain of title.
• Exceptions and Cross-State Issues: If the real estate is in North Carolina, Pennsylvania probate paperwork generally won’t “fix” North Carolina land records. You may need a North Carolina attorney to confirm whether an ancillary probate, a personal representative’s deed, or a recorded court order is required there.

A DIY quitclaim deed can create clouded title, trigger transfer tax questions, or fail a lender/title review—problems that often surface only when you try to sell or refinance.

For more background, you may find these helpful: Will a Quitclaim Deed Work to Satisfy a Mortgage Company for Inherited Property in Pennsylvania? and How Do Unrecorded or Unsigned Deeds Affect Probate Property Administration in Pennsylvania?.

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Disclaimer: This article provides general information under Pennsylvania law and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change frequently. For legal advice specific to your situation, please consult with a licensed attorney.