Virginia Forms

James City Gift Deed Form

James City Gift Deed Form

James City Gift Deed Form

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

Validated 5/8/2025 Preview Form
James City Gift Deed Guide

James City Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Validated 4/16/2025 Preview Form
James City Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

James City Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Validated 1/10/2025 Preview Form

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

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

Where to Record Your Documents

Clerk of the Circuit Court
Address:
5201 Monticello Ave, Suite 6
Williamsburg, Virginia 23188-8218

Hours: 8:30am - 4:30pm Monday-Friday

Phone: (757) 564-2242

Recording Tips for James City:
  • Ensure all signatures are in blue or black ink
  • Double-check legal descriptions match your existing deed
  • Request a receipt showing your recording numbers
  • Ask about accepted payment methods when you call ahead

Cities and Jurisdictions in James City

Properties in any of these areas use James City forms:

  • Jamestown
  • Norge
  • Toano
  • Williamsburg

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for James City

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The James City 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 James City?

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

Recording fees in James City vary. Contact the recorder's office at (757) 564-2242 for current fees.

Have other questions? Contact our support team

Gifts of Real Estate in Virginia

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). They typically transfer real property between family or close friends. Gift deeds are also used to donate to a non-profit organization or charity.

Gift deeds, by definition, are transfers made for no consideration. To gift property to a donee, the donor may execute a quitclaim, special warranty, or warranty deed, depending on the level of protection they wish to provide. In general, though, gift deeds with full warranties are unusual; most donors choose either quitclaim or special warranty deeds.

Quitclaim deeds transfer the owner's property rights to the recipient with no assurances about the status of the title, or even a guarantee that they have actually own the property. Special warranty deeds confirm that the donor owns the property, has the right to transfer it, and will defend the donee against claims on the title that relate to their period of ownership.

For a gift deed to be valid, the grantor must intend to make a gift of the property, deliver the property to the grantee, and the grantee must accept the gift. It must contain language that explicitly states no consideration is expected or required. 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.

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, and manner of vesting title. 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.

The granting party must sign the deed in the presence of an authorized official before filing the deed in the Clerk of Court's office in the independent city or county in which the property is situated. If married, the non-owning spouse should sign as an additional grantor to waive any interest in the estate. Gift deeds must meet all state and local standards for recorded documents. Some jurisdictions in Virginia require a cover page for recording. Generate the cover sheet online and submit it when recording (see supplemental forms). Contact the local recording office with questions.

Deeds of gift are exempt from recordation taxes under Va. Code 58.1-811(D). The deed must state on its face that the transfer is exempt from the tax.

Virginia does not levy a state gift tax, but the grantor must pay the Federal Gift Tax. The IRS implements 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. As of 2020, individuals are permitted an annual exclusion of $15,000 on gifts. If there is any question about the gift's value, or if it is close to the exclusion limit, the grantor may wish to consider filing a Form 709 for the federal tax. Ask the local tax assessor or another tax professional for guidance.

With gifts of real property, the recipient (grantee) is not required to declare the amount of the gift as income, but if the property accrues income (such as rent) after the transaction, the recipient is responsible for paying associated state and federal income taxes. Note that the grantee, as the new owner, also becomes responsible for local property taxes and maintaining other agreements and restrictions associated with the property.

This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional legal advice. Contact an attorney with questions about gift deeds or for any other issues related to the transfer of real property in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

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

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

This Gift Deed meets all recording requirements specific to James City.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the James City 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 James City 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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February 11th, 2021

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William S.

June 4th, 2021

Contents were well done. Could not remove and replace the "Deeds/" footer, rendering the form unusable for filing with a court and county deed records. This should be corrected.

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December 1st, 2021

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Darrell P.

February 23rd, 2019

My legal description exceeds the avaiable space in the one page Exhibit A...any way to add a second page as 'Exhibit A (continued)'?

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It is not required to use the included exhibit page. Simply label your printed legal description as the appropriate exhibit.

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April 11th, 2019

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February 25th, 2019

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March 3rd, 2020

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November 12th, 2021

was fairly easy to work through the forms but needed better information on what goes on a few of the lines

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March 8th, 2019

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July 14th, 2020

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November 17th, 2021

Deeds.com support is very quick and responsive. Would use again and recommend to others in need of e-recording.

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December 19th, 2021

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

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July 7th, 2020

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November 21st, 2019

Received the quit claim form as ordered. Seemed clear and concise, easy to follow instructions and the completed example was helpful.

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