Illinois Forms

Stephenson County Gift Deed Form

Stephenson County Gift Deed Form

Stephenson County Gift Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 7/31/2025
Stephenson County Gift Deed Guide

Stephenson County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 5/9/2025
Stephenson County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Stephenson County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 8/27/2025

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Stephenson County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Stephenson County Clerk and Recorder
Address:
50 West Douglas, Suite 500
Freeport, Illinois 61032

Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 Monday through Friday

Phone: (815) 235-8289

Recording Tips for Stephenson County:
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible

Cities and Jurisdictions in Stephenson County

Properties in any of these areas use Stephenson County forms:

  • Cedarville
  • Dakota
  • Davis
  • Eleroy
  • Freeport
  • German Valley
  • Kent
  • Lena
  • Mc Connell
  • Orangeville
  • Pearl City
  • Ridott
  • Rock City
  • Winslow

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Stephenson County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Stephenson County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.

Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Stephenson County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Stephenson County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Stephenson County you only need to order once.

What do I need to use these forms?

The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.

Are there any recurring fees?

No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.

How much does it cost to record in Stephenson County?

Recording fees in Stephenson County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (815) 235-8289 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Gifts of Real Property in Illinois

Gift deeds convey title to real property from one party to another with no exchange of consideration, monetary or otherwise. Often used to transfer property between family members or to gift property as a charitable act or donation, these conveyances occur during the grantor's lifetime. Gift deeds must contain language that explicitly states that no consideration is expected or required. Ambiguous language or references to any type of consideration can make the gift deed contestable in court.

A lawful gift deed includes the grantor's full name and marital status, as well as the grantee's full name, marital status, vesting information, and mailing address. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. Generally, real property is owned in either sole ownership or co-ownership. For Illinois residential property, the primary methods for holding title are tenancy in common, joint tenancy, and tenancy by the entirety. An estate conveyed to two or more unmarried persons is considered a tenancy in common, unless otherwise specified (765 ILCS 1005/1). A conveyance to a married couple vests as tenancy by entirety unless otherwise specified (765 ILCS 1005/1c).

As with any conveyance of realty, a gift deed requires a complete legal description of the parcel. Recite the source of title to maintain a clear chain of title, and detail any restrictions associated with the property. In Illinois, if the signer is not personally known to the notarial officer, a witness must acknowledge and sign the deed (765 ILCS 5/24). All signatures must be original.

In Illinois, most conveyances of real property are subject to a Real Estate Transfer Tax and require a Real Estate Transfer Declaration (Form PTAX-203). However, because a gift deed transfers real property from one party to another with no exchange of valuable consideration, this type of conveyance is exempt from the tax and does not require a declaration (35 ILCS 200/31-45e). Record the completed gift deed with the recorder's office where the subject property is located. Contact the same office to confirm recording fees and accepted forms of payment.

With gifts of real property, the recipient of the gift (grantee or donee) is not required to declare the amount of the gift as income, but if the property accrues income after the transaction, the grantee is responsible for paying the requisite state and federal income tax [1].

In Illinois, there is no state gift tax. Gifts of real property in Illinois are, however, subject to the federal gift tax. The person or entity making the gift (grantor or donor) is responsible for paying the federal gift tax; however, if the donor does not pay the gift tax, the donee (grantee) will be held liable [1]. For questions regarding state and federal tax laws, consult a tax specialist.

In accordance with federal law, individuals are permitted an annual exclusion of $15,000 on gifts. This means that gifts valued below $15,000 do not require a federal gift tax return (Form 709). Even so, donors should consider filing one for many gifts of real property [2].

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Contact an Illinois lawyer with any questions about gift deeds or other issues related to the transfer of real property.

[1] http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199105HR.pdf

[2] https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes

(Illinois Gift Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Stephenson County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Gift Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Stephenson County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Stephenson County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.

Save Time and Money

Get your Stephenson County Gift Deed form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.

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