How to Remove an Ex-Spouse From a House Title in Nevada

Nevada Deeds · Updated September 2026

The divorce is final. The decree says the house is yours. And your ex-spouse’s name is still sitting on the deed at the county recorder.

This surprises almost everyone. A divorce decree settles what each of you is entitled to, but it does not change the public record of who owns the property. Until a new deed is signed and recorded, the county still shows both of you on title — and that causes real problems the moment you try to sell, refinance, or leave the home to your children.

Why the decree alone is not enough

A Nevada divorce decree is a court order between you and your former spouse. The county recorder is not a party to it. The recorder’s index is updated by recorded documents, not by court orders sitting in a file.

So while the decree may award you the house, the title still reads the way it did the day you bought it. A title company running a search will find your ex-spouse on title and stop. A lender refinancing will require their signature. And if you die with the record unchanged, your family inherits the argument.

The document that actually fixes it

In most Nevada divorces, the instrument used is a quitclaim deed. Your former spouse signs it, giving up whatever interest they hold in the property, and it is recorded with the county where the house sits.

A quitclaim makes no promises about the state of title — it simply moves whatever interest that person has. Between former spouses carrying out a decree, that is usually exactly what is needed, and it is why it is the common choice.

The deed records with a Declaration of Value, the Nevada form stating the property’s value and the basis for any exemption. It is required on every transfer, and a deed that arrives without one is rejected.

Will you owe Nevada transfer tax?

Usually not. Nevada exempts a transfer made between former spouses in compliance with a decree of divorce, and separately exempts transfers between spouses. The exemption is claimed on the Declaration of Value, and the recorder will want to see the decree.

It is worth being precise here, because the exemption is not automatic. The recorder decides it from the paperwork in front of them. Claimed properly, a transfer that would otherwise cost hundreds or thousands in Real Property Transfer Tax costs nothing beyond the recording fee.

What if your ex-spouse will not sign?

This is the hard case, and it is worth being straight about it. A quitclaim deed requires their signature. If they refuse, a document preparer cannot force it — that is a matter to take back to the court that issued your decree, and it is a question for an attorney.

What we can do is prepare the deed correctly so that when they do sign, it records first time rather than coming back for a correction.

The mortgage is a separate problem

Removing someone from the deed does not remove them from the loan. Those are two different contracts. If you both signed the mortgage, you both remain liable to the lender regardless of whose name is on title.

Changing that means refinancing in your name alone, or a loan assumption if your lender permits one. Plenty of people discover this years later when the ex-spouse’s credit is affected by a payment they had nothing to do with.

What it costs in Nevada

• Quitclaim deed with the Declaration of Value prepared — $250
• Retrieving your current recorded deed, if you do not have a copy — $30
• Notarization — in person in South Las Vegas, $15 for the first signature, $7 for each additional; from home by video, $25 per signature
• County recording fee — estimated $50, varies by county
• Transfer tax — generally nil where the divorce exemption applies

How long it takes

Drafting usually happens the same business day once we have your details. You do not need to travel. We email the documents to you, you sign from home by video with our partner’s registered Nevada online notary ($25 per signature), and we submit electronically to your county the same day.

That matters if you are in Pahrump, Yerington, Elko or anywhere a long way from a city. Nothing here requires a drive to Las Vegas. If you live in South Las Vegas and would rather sign in person with our partner’s notary, our office is available by appointment, but it is an option rather than a requirement.

TruPoint LLC is not a law firm and does not give legal advice. We prepare documents at your direction. Where a situation calls for legal advice — including a former spouse who will not sign — we will say so and suggest you speak with a Nevada attorney.