Lake County Gift Deed Form (Minnesota)

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

Gift Deed Form

Lake County Gift Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Included Lake County compliant document last validated/updated 9/12/2024

Gift Deed Guide

Lake County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Lake County compliant document last validated/updated 11/18/2024

Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Lake County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.
Included Lake County compliant document last validated/updated 9/19/2024

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

Lake County Recorder

Courthouse - 601 Third Ave, Rm 201 , Two Harbors, Minnesota 55616

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm Monday through Friday

Phone: (218) 834-8347

Local jurisdictions located in Lake County include:

  • Beaver Bay
  • Finland
  • Isabella
  • Knife River
  • Silver Bay
  • Two Harbors

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 Lake 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 Lake County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Lake County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Lake 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 Lake County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Lake County.

What are supplemental forms?

Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Minnesota or Lake 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 Lake 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.

Gifting Real Estate (Real Property) in Minnesota

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, telephone number and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For Minnesota residential property, the primary methods for holding title are tenancy in common and joint tenancy. A conveyance to two or more persons is presumed to create a tenancy in common, unless a joint tenancy is specifically created (Minn. Stat. Ann. 500.19(2)).

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. When claiming a minimum deed tax or an exemption, include Deed Tax Form 1 (287.21). If there is a well on the property, include a Well Disclosure Certificate, or applicable e-certificate number (103I.235). An Affidavit Regarding Seller by Individual(s) and an Affidavit Regarding Purchaser by Individual(s) must also be signed and notarized. 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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota, 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

(Minnesota GD Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Lake 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 Lake 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 - ( 4434 Reviews )

James S.

November 21st, 2024

Forms used, created quitclaim deed that the county accepted without a second look (turns out they see deeds.com forms regularly via erecording and in person). Will be back for any real estate related forms I need and they carry. Will always be my first stop. Also, will use erecording next time, mad I didn't see it this time.

Reply from Staff

Thanks for the kind words James, glad we could help. Look forward to seeing you again.

Thomas G.

November 21st, 2024

Wasn’t what I expected

Reply from Staff

Sorry to hear that your expectations were missed. Your order has been canceled. We do hope that you find something more suitable to your expectations elsewhere. Do keep in mind that purchasing legal forms should not be an exploratory endeavor.

Jimmy P.

November 20th, 2024

They sent me everything I would need to do this. Easy purchase -Easy download. Great!! I'll be back here for all my document needs.

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Donald T.

February 6th, 2020

very user friendly. includes an example you can reference, and explanation of terms, which helps greatly in understanding.

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April 1st, 2020

Your site is useful but limited in scope. I could not find exactly what I was looking for and felt that paying when I wasn't sure was going to be extremely frustrating.

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September 19th, 2019

Very easy. Worked well. Will be glad to use the service again.

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Santos V.

March 18th, 2023

Great and easy to understand.

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Robin B.

November 6th, 2020

Nice and easy

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Dennis E.

March 21st, 2019

Easy to complete form. Examples were very helpful in using correct verbiage for form. Also way less expensive than the $500 an attorney wanted to charge me for doing the very same thing!!!

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Elizabeth W.

February 9th, 2023

would have been smart to give each pdf a name instead of unintelligible numbers...

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October 14th, 2020

Great service, well worth the $15 fee. Especially helpful was the review of my documentation and the quick responses. Recommending it to associates who might need this service.

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Michael M.

February 20th, 2020

Thanks worked out great as the form was perfect and no problems filing it with the county.

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Solomon L.

October 10th, 2024

Great communication, this was my first e-recording.

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James M.

January 3rd, 2023

It would be helpful to have a joint tenant example.

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charles g.

December 2nd, 2019

very good forms. they covered everything i needed.

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