Berrien County Gift Deed Form (Michigan)

All Berrien County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:

Gift Deed Form

Berrien County Gift Deed Form

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

Gift Deed Guide

Berrien County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Berrien County compliant document last validated/updated 6/24/2025

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.
Included Berrien County compliant document last validated/updated 6/20/2025

When using these Gift Deed forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Berrien County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:

Berrien County Register of Deeds

701 Main St, St. Joseph, Michigan 49085

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

Phone: (269) 983-7111 Ext. 8562

Local jurisdictions located in Berrien County include:

  • 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

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 Berrien 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 Berrien County using our eRecording service.
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 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 Berrien County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Berrien County.

What are supplemental forms?

Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Michigan or Berrien 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 Berrien 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 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 - ( 4563 Reviews )

JAMES D.

July 10th, 2025

Slick as can be and so convenient.rnrnWorked like a charm

Reply from Staff

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

MARY LACEY M.

June 30th, 2025

Great service! Recording was smooth and swiftly performed. Deeds.com is an excellent service.rn

Reply from Staff

We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!

Robert F.

June 30th, 2025

Breeze.... It feels silly to hire an attorney to do this for just one beneficiary. Thanks.

Reply from Staff

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

Janice T.

September 14th, 2020

The downloads were a great help in understanding of both what a Warranty Deed was and how to follow the steps as well as filling out the forms.

Reply from Staff

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

Kathy P.

November 25th, 2019

I like that the quit claim form was fill in the blank on my computer instead of online, made it so much easier than having to do everything at once, at the mercy of the internet connection. Will refer others here.

Reply from Staff

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

Tiffani D.

February 25th, 2020

The website was very user-friendly. I am glad it was available!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Nga C.

January 5th, 2022

I am so happy to discover the Deeds.com website. It is worth to pay the package fee and the recording fee for my beneficiary deed in AZ state. It is so convenient, I highly recommend everybody to use the service. Thank you and thank you.

Reply from Staff

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

Patricia H.

May 17th, 2022

I really like this site and it's actually recommended by many County Recorders. I especially like that there's not join up/monthly fee. It's easy to use and the customer support is outstanding. They're very helpful and patient.

Reply from Staff

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

Andrea R.

July 10th, 2020

Easy and fast. Thank you so much!!

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

Grace G.

January 21st, 2019

The Forms I received were perfect for me. I also double ordered one of the forms and you corrected it on the spot. Thanks. (I am a Real Estate Broker)

Reply from Staff

Thank you!

GERALD P.

September 19th, 2019

Product is as advertised. Most beneficial is including detailed instructions and examples. Most other options did not include instructions.

Reply from Staff

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

Jenifer L.

January 2nd, 2019

I'm an attorney. I see youve mixed up the terms "grantor" and "grantee" and their respective rights in this version. Anyone using it like this might have title troubles down the line.

Reply from Staff

Thank you for your feedback Jenifer, we have flagged the document for review.

Novella M T.

January 5th, 2022

Amazing forms, nice to have something specific and not generic like some other sites. Getting the other required forms included is a nice bonus.

Reply from Staff

Great to hear Novella. We appreciate you taking the time to leave your feedback.

James C.

October 20th, 2022

was very helpfull, It provided the refernces to the stat laws so I coul have a deeper look into the issue I was trying to deal with.

Reply from Staff

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

Pamela M.

May 13th, 2021

Saved a great deal of time and hassle. THANKS

Reply from Staff

Thank you!