Michigan Forms

Berrien County Gift Deed Form

Berrien County Gift Deed Form

Berrien County Gift Deed Form

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

Document Last Validated 2/12/2025
Berrien County Gift Deed Guide

Berrien County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 6/24/2025
Berrien County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Berrien County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 6/20/2025

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Berrien County Register of Deeds
Address:
701 Main St
St. Joseph, Michigan 49085

Hours: 8:30 to 5:00 M-F

Phone: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8562

Recording Tips for Berrien County:
  • Ask about their eRecording option for future transactions
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
  • Consider using eRecording to avoid trips to the office

Cities and Jurisdictions in Berrien County

Properties in any of these areas use Berrien County forms:

  • Baroda
  • Benton Harbor
  • Berrien Center
  • Berrien Springs
  • Bridgman
  • Buchanan
  • Coloma
  • Eau Claire
  • Galien
  • Hagar Shores
  • Harbert
  • Lakeside
  • New Buffalo
  • New Troy
  • Niles
  • Riverside
  • Saint Joseph
  • Sawyer
  • Sodus
  • Stevensville
  • Three Oaks
  • Union Pier
  • Watervliet

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Berrien County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Berrien County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8562 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

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)

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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Berrien 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 Berrien 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 - ( 4580 Reviews )

Annette H.

September 8th, 2022

Deeds.com has done a wonderful job! They are quick to get back to me either with the Deed or reason why there is no Deed. You have saved me so much time using your services that I hope to keep using them for years to come! Thank you!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

William S.

September 25th, 2020

Love the ability to e-record a single document as a private citizen. Other companies only want to do business with large volume filers like title companies and attorneys. e-recording was super easy and so efficient. Got confirmation of recording from county clerk less than one hour after submission.

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BAHMAN B.

April 20th, 2020

Very good experience.

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Dennis D.

November 7th, 2019

Thanks for the efficient process and instructions.

Reply from Staff

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Tracey P.

December 24th, 2021

As always, amazing forms and information. A must have for anyone doing it themselves. Everything is available to make it happen but if you need a lot of hand holding you might want to look into a more full service option.

Reply from Staff

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Sara D.

September 25th, 2019

Would have been beneficial to have more information about the previous sale history of the property. The report was received in a very timely manner.

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Sara R.

June 19th, 2019

Worked well for me to create a deed for a house I inherited. It was very thorough and easy to use. I have no experience with the law so I just googled terms I didn't understand and was fine. I also called land records a lot and ended up not needing a lot of the material included, but it was still good to have it.

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JOHN S.

October 16th, 2021

They had everything for a living trust but the form to transfer your house into the living trust

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Thomas N.

March 13th, 2020

Great service, truly helpful & saves time!!

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Mary D.

March 29th, 2021

LOVE this site.. easy to use and very very quick to record

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Dana Y.

October 22nd, 2019

Purchased and used the quitclaim form. I have no complaints with any aspect. The forms, instructions, and example all came together to make the process very easy.

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Thank you Dana. Have a great day!

Christina W.

September 4th, 2019

I stand corrected. I received my report and it was exactly what I requested.

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Thank you!

Dakota H.

December 19th, 2021

Brilliant idea. Beats working with an attorney who charges $250+ per hour. Thanks.

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john o.

August 8th, 2020

very simple to use

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Thomas T.

August 8th, 2022

Amazing site, been using it since 2018 for forms and never an issue.

Reply from Staff

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