Benzie County Gift Deed Form (Michigan)
All Benzie County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:
Gift Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Included Benzie County compliant document last validated/updated 2/12/2025
Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Benzie County compliant document last validated/updated 6/24/2025
Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Benzie County compliant document last validated/updated 6/20/2025
The following Michigan and Benzie County supplemental forms are included as a courtesy with your order:
When using these Gift Deed forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Benzie County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:
Benzie County Register of Deeds
Government Center - 448 Court Pl, upper level, Beulah, Michigan 49617
Hours: 8:00 to 5:00 M-F
Phone: (231) 882-0016
Local jurisdictions located in Benzie County include:
- Benzonia
- Beulah
- Elberta
- Frankfort
- Honor
- Lake Ann
- Thompsonville
How long does it take to get my forms?
Forms are available immediately after submitting payment.
How do I get my forms, are they emailed?
Immediately after you submit payment, the Benzie County forms you order will be available for download directly from your account. You can then download the forms to your computer. If you do not already have an account, one will be created for you as part of the order process, and your login details will be provided to you. If you encounter any issues accessing your forms, please reach out to our support team for assistance. Forms are NOT emailed to you.
What does "validated/updated" mean?
This indicates the most recent date when at least one of the following occurred:
- Updated: The document was updated or changed to remain compliant.
- Validated: The document was examined by an attorney or staff, or it was successfully recorded in Benzie County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Benzie County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Benzie County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.
Can the Gift Deed forms be re-used?
Yes. You can re-use the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have more than one property in Benzie County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Benzie County.
What are supplemental forms?
Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Michigan or Benzie County. These could be tax related, informational, or even as simple as a coversheet. Supplemental forms are provided for free with your order where available.
What type of files are the forms?
All of our Benzie County Gift Deed forms are PDFs. You will need to have or get Adobe Reader to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.
Do I need any special software to use these forms?
You will need to have Adobe Reader installed on your computer to use our forms. Adobe Reader is free software that most computers already have installed.
Do I have to enter all of my property information online?
No. The blank forms are downloaded to your computer and you fill them out there, at your convenience.
Can I save the completed form, email it to someone?
Yes, you can save your deed form at any point with your information in it. The forms can also be emailed, blank or complete, as attachments.
Are there any recurring fees involved?
No. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
Gifts of Real Property (Real Estate) in Michigan
A gift deed, or deed of gift, is a legal document voluntarily transferring title to real property from one party (the grantor or donor) to another (the grantee or donee). A gift deed typically transfers real property between family or close friends. Gift deeds are also used to donate to a non-profit organization or charity. The deed serves as proof that the transfer is indeed a gift and without consideration (any conditions or form of compensation).
Valid deeds must meet the following requirements: The grantor must intend to make a present gift of the property, the grantor must deliver the property to the grantee, and the grantee must accept the gift. Gift deeds must contain language that explicitly states no consideration is expected or required, because any ambiguity or reference to consideration can make the deed contestable in court. A promise to transfer ownership in the future is not a gift, and any deed that does not immediately transfer the interest in the property, or meet any of the aforementioned requirements, can be revoked [1].
A lawful gift deed must also include the grantor's full name and marital status, as well as the grantee's full name, marital status, mailing address, and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For Michigan residential property, the primary methods for holding title are tenancy in common, joint tenancy, and tenancy by entirety. A grant of ownership of real estate to two or more unmarried persons is presumed to create a tenancy in common, unless otherwise stated in the conveyance. Transfers to a married couple create a tenancy by entirety. (MCL 554.43--45). Gift property acquired by one spouse vests as sole ownership (MCL 557.21).
As with any conveyance of real estate, a gift deed requires a complete legal description of the parcel. Include all relevant documents, affidavits, forms, and fees with the along with the deed for recording as well. File a Property Transfer Affidavit whenever real estate is transferred to ensure correct assessment for tax purposes. The new owner must file in the city or township where the property is located within 45 days of transfer (MCL 207.504, 207.525). Record the completed deed at the local County Recorder's office.
The IRS levies a Federal Gift Tax on any transfer of property from one individual to another with no consideration, or consideration that is less than the full market value. Gifts of real property in Michigan are subject to this federal gift tax. 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, grantors should consider filing one for many gifts of real property [2]. The grantor is responsible for paying the federal gift tax; however, if the grantor does not pay the gift tax, the grantee will be held liable [1].
In Michigan, there is no state gift tax. For questions regarding tax laws, consult a tax specialist.
With gifts of real property, the recipient of the gift (grantee) is not required to declare the amount of the gift as income, but if the property accrues income after the transaction, the recipient is responsible for paying the requisite state and federal income taxes [3].
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Contact a lawyer with any questions about gift deeds or other issues related to the transfer of real property. For questions regarding federal and state taxation laws, consult a tax specialist.
[1]https://nationalparalegal.edu/public_documents/courseware_asp_files/realProperty/PersonalProperty/InterVivosGifts.asp
[2] http://msuextension.org/publications/FamilyFinancialManagement/MT199105HR.pdf
[3] https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/frequently-asked-questions-on-gift-taxes
(Michigan Gift Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Benzie 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 Benzie 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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JAMES D.
July 10th, 2025
Slick as can be and so convenient.rnrnWorked like a charm
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MARY LACEY M.
June 30th, 2025
Great service! Recording was smooth and swiftly performed. Deeds.com is an excellent service.rn
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Robert F.
June 30th, 2025
Breeze.... It feels silly to hire an attorney to do this for just one beneficiary. Thanks.
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Steve F.
July 9th, 2021
Fast Service, Easy to use. Highly Recommend!
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Thomas V.
January 7th, 2019
Easy to use. Accomplished my goal
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Elizabeth R.
April 20th, 2023
It was easy to download and save the Revocation of Beneficiary of Deed form. The example and instructions helped a lot. When I went to file with the county clerk's office, she read through it carefully and said "perfect" when she was through. Thank you for making it so easy!
Thank you!
Lloyd T.
September 13th, 2023
Example deed given did not apply to married couples as joint owners with both being grantors. The example and directions also did not show how to write more than one grantee as equal grantees. Both would have been helpful when husband and wife are granting their property to their children equally. Also when attaching the exhibit A with the property description the example did not say "see exhibit A"in the property description area, so I didn't write that. Luckily the recorder of deeds allowed me to write it in. I think directions and examples for multiple scenarios would be helpful.
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Lisa C.
December 5th, 2023
Thank you. Very easy!
We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!
Brenn C.
April 11th, 2022
These products would be more useful if they final deed could be copied and pasted into a word document for proper formatting. Because most of the document is protected against selecting and copying, I did not find it useful. I would not purchase again.
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Fernando B.
June 11th, 2021
It works
Thank you!
Kimberly J H.
August 1st, 2023
The Washington State Transfer on Death Deed I purchased worked perfectly.
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James P.
July 28th, 2020
I wish I used this site more often. The format is pretty easy but the messages were invaluable and the staff were great. I was able to complete my transaction in a Covid environment from the security of my own home. Great service and tools!
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Shabaz W.
June 5th, 2020
Very convenient
Thank you!
Ute P.
February 14th, 2019
Thank you it was hard for me to pull these documents online you been a big help since I am in a different state, quick and awesome.
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Lori W.
January 24th, 2020
Disclaimer letter was just what I needed. Download worked without a hitch.
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