Kentucky Forms

Shelby County Gift Deed Form

Shelby County Gift Deed Form

Shelby County Gift Deed Form

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

Document Last Validated 8/20/2025
Shelby County Gift Deed Guide

Shelby County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 8/21/2025
Shelby County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Shelby County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 3/3/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Shelby County Clerk
Address:
501 Washington St
Shelbyville, Kentucky 40066

Hours: Monday - Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM; Thursday: 8:30 AM to 6 PM

Phone: 502-633-4410

Recording Tips for Shelby County:
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
  • Avoid the last business day of the month when possible
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers

Cities and Jurisdictions in Shelby County

Properties in any of these areas use Shelby County forms:

  • Bagdad
  • Finchville
  • Shelbyville
  • Simpsonville
  • Waddy

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Shelby County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Shelby County vary. Contact the recorder's office at 502-633-4410 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

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 Kentucky 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 persons is considered a tenancy in common, unless a joint tenancy is specified. An estate conveyed to a husband and wife vests as a tenancy in common, unless a tenancy by the entirety with full right of survivorship is expressly stated (KRS 381.050).

As with any conveyance of realty, a gift deed requires a complete legal description of the parcel. Recite the prior deed reference to maintain a clear chain of title, and detail any restrictions associated with the property.

In Kentucky, most conveyances of real property require a statement of consideration. A transfer tax is levied based on the actual consideration stated and paid. When real property is gifted from one party to another and no consideration is exchanged, tax is paid on the property's estimated value, so that amount must be stated within the instrument (KRS 382.135(1)(e)). "Value," as defined by KRS 142.050(1)(b)(2), is "the estimated price the property would bring in an open market and under the then prevailing market conditions in a sale between a willing seller and a willing buyer, both conversant with the property and with prevailing general price levels." Each grantee must join in signing to certify the consideration statement.

The deed must be signed by both the grantor and grantee and acknowledged by an authorized individual. All signatures must be original. In Kentucky, deeds also require a preparation statement, comprised of the document preparer's name, address, and signature (KRS 382.335(1)). Instruments also require the name and address of the person to receive future tax statements on the subject property (KRS 382.135(1)(d)).

Record the completed gift deed with the clerk's office in 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 Kentucky, 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]. 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 a Kentucky lawyer with any questions about gift deeds or other matters 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

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

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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Shelby 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 Shelby 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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March 26th, 2022

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December 14th, 2022

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November 3rd, 2020

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March 28th, 2025

ALL THE DEED DOCUMENTS ARE ALL EXCELLENT AND ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS REGARDING COMPLETING THE DOCUMENTS!!! EXCELLENT!!

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July 15th, 2022

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May 15th, 2020

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March 27th, 2023

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December 30th, 2020

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October 29th, 2019

First time user and was directed there from a search on my home state for a state form. The downloaded form was complete with instructions and sample filled out form. I was not happy about the cost for the form, but it did the job.

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June 26th, 2019

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Lynne Z.

April 22nd, 2022

not enough room for legal description. Wouldn't allow me to enter widow status in owner box. Not clear who to send it to so I printed it out and will ask the notary who I use for recording it.

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March 30th, 2022

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August 5th, 2020

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June 13th, 2025

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