New York Forms

Tompkins County Gift Deed Form

Tompkins County Gift Deed Form

Tompkins County Gift Deed Form

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

Document Last Validated 7/22/2025
Tompkins County Gift Deed Guide

Tompkins County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 5/26/2025
Tompkins County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Tompkins County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 7/11/2025

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

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Tompkins County Clerk
Address:
320 N. Tioga St
Ithaca, New York 14850

Hours: Monday-Friday: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM

Phone: (607) 274-5431

Recording Tips for Tompkins County:
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
  • Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates

Cities and Jurisdictions in Tompkins County

Properties in any of these areas use Tompkins County forms:

  • Brooktondale
  • Dryden
  • Etna
  • Freeville
  • Groton
  • Ithaca
  • Jacksonville
  • Lansing
  • Mc Lean
  • Newfield
  • Slaterville Springs
  • Trumansburg

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Tompkins County

How do I get my forms?

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

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

Recording fees in Tompkins County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (607) 274-5431 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Gifting Real Estate in New York

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 includes the grantor's full name and marital status, as well as the grantee's full name, marital status, mailing address (not a post office box), and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For New York 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 expressly stated otherwise in the conveyance. In the case of married persons, a tenancy by entirety is presumed (E.P.T. Law 6-2.1, 6-2.2).

As with any conveyance of real estate, a gift deed requires a complete legal description of the parcel. Recite the source of title to establish a clear chain of title, and detail any restrictions associated with the property. File the completed deed in the land records at the local recording office. Most counties require a recording cover page to accompany all documents submitted for recording, available on the local county clerk's website.

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 New York 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 New York, there is no state gift tax. For questions regarding state taxation 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

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

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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Tompkins 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 Tompkins 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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Rebecca H.

May 22nd, 2021

I thought the forms were reasonably priced, the instructions included in the packet were thorough, and the examples helpful. Thank you for the additional CDR forms too. I contacted the Recorder's office via email with a question and Jennifer Bowser answered promptly. Job well done! However, when I delivered the deed and Real Property Transfer Declaration to the Clerk's office in Lafayette, the clerk was unfamiliar with the Declaration document being submitted and it took some time to convince her to submit the form without charging the recording fee. She even tried to phone the recorder's office for clarification, but no one answered. There then was an additional form at that office that I had to complete called Recording Request/Transmittal Form. I would suggest including that form with instructions in your on-line packet to speed up the process when a Deed is delivered to the County Clerk's satellite office. I do not expect every clerk to know all the particulars of recording requirements but a little knowledge wouldn't hurt.

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June 26th, 2019

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June 24th, 2020

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August 18th, 2020

Very helpful.

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January 16th, 2019

Got the forms, very straight forward. No problems completing them.

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