Iowa Forms

Wapello County Gift Deed Form

Wapello County Gift Deed Form

Wapello County Gift Deed Form

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

Document Last Validated 8/26/2025
Wapello County Gift Deed Guide

Wapello County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 7/23/2025
Wapello County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Wapello County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 5/16/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Wapello County Recorder
Address:
101 W 4th St
Ottumwa, Iowa 52501

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

Phone: (641) 683-0045

Recording Tips for Wapello County:
  • Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
  • White-out or correction fluid may cause rejection
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned
  • Some documents require witnesses in addition to notarization

Cities and Jurisdictions in Wapello County

Properties in any of these areas use Wapello County forms:

  • Agency
  • Blakesburg
  • Chillicothe
  • Eddyville
  • Eldon
  • Kirkville
  • Ottumwa

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Wapello County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Wapello 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 Wapello County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Wapello 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 Wapello 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 Wapello County?

Recording fees in Wapello County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (641) 683-0045 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Gifts of Real Property in Iowa

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 Iowa residential property, the primary methods for holding title are tenancy in common and joint tenancy. An estate conveyed to two or more people who are not married to each other is considered a tenancy in common unless otherwise specified. A conveyance to a married couple vests as joint tenancy with rights of survivorship unless otherwise stated (Iowa Code 557.15).

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. The deed must be signed by the grantor and acknowledged by an individual authorized to take acknowledgements. All signatures must be original.

In Iowa, most conveyances of real property require a Declaration of Value. Because a gift deed transfers real property from one party to another with no exchange of consideration, however, it is exempt from this requirement (Iowa Code 428A.2(21)). Record the completed gift deed in the recorder's office of the county 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 Iowa, there is no state gift tax, but gifts of real property are 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). However, if the gift's value could possibly be disputed by the IRS, a donor may benefit from filing a Form 709 [2].

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Contact an Iowa 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

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

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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Wapello 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 Wapello 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.

4.8 out of 5 - ( 4581 Reviews )

Ed H.

June 28th, 2025

I filled out the Kansas form and presented it to the Clerk of Deeds in Rawlins Co and there were no problems and no expensive attorney involved for a simple transaction.

Reply from Staff

Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!

Reed W.

May 19th, 2022

Thanks

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Donald C.

February 22nd, 2019

No review provided.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

janice l.

June 12th, 2021

Exact form needed with perfect instructions. Easy Peazy! Just got my fully recorded document back today. Saved hundreds. Just make sure and read all the instructions .

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

L B W.

January 22nd, 2021

Bottom line - it was certainly worth the $21 (+-?) I paid for the form and instructions, etc. Admittedly the form is a little inflexible in terms of editing for readability but I understand that offering greater flexibility would likely make theft more likely. So I'm happy with what I got. One suggestion - add more info about what's required in the "Source of Title" section.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Larry H.

December 23rd, 2020

Nice

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Danny A.

January 10th, 2021

This app is a fast and convenient way to download documents you need.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Noah B.

May 14th, 2020

Website is basic, but get's the job done. Communication was prompt and efficient. Would use again. Thank You!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

FRANK D.

September 28th, 2019

Excellent software along with my other Will/Trust programs. I always use your program regarding deeds.

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Debbra .S C.

June 1st, 2023

Very easy and nice website to use.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

janice m.

August 1st, 2025

Great system!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Mary P.

February 11th, 2019

Excellent easy to follow instructions.

Reply from Staff

Great to hear Mary, Have a wonderful day!

John B.

August 11th, 2022

Simply amazing. I had absolutely no idea how to properly file a deed, until someone told me about deeds.com. It's just such a well designed service, with fantastic customer support, and speed. Bravo to everyone at deeds.

Reply from Staff

We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!

Bernardo M.

March 11th, 2022

You think you're purchasing 1 form for $25 but you are getting several which explains the $25. My printer ran out of black ink and I couldn't change the color of the text so that it would print. I couldn't copy and paste it to Word and work on it there. I'm going to purchase ink today so that it will at least print right. I will have to retype the text in Word; not good.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!

Anita C.

November 3rd, 2021

I found this site when looking for help filing a quitclaim deed to change my property deed to my married name. I received the correct forms, an example filled out, and a guide specific to my state. I have already submitted it for review to my county assessor's office (they were extremely helpful also) and it looks as if it should sail through. Thank you Deeds.com!

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!