Quiet title action

A quiet title action is a court proceeding to remove a cloud on the title to real property.

This is commonly done, for example, when a real estate buyer purchases a property at a governmental foreclosure sale for nonpayment of property taxes. Almost always the deed given to the buyer is a form of quitclaim deed (though titled "Sheriff's Deed" or "Tax Deed") as the government is not warranting any portion of the sale. In order to sell the property in many cases, or to obtain a mortgage or construction loan, the buyer will need to initiate this action to clear the title.