Watonwan County Gift Deed Form (Minnesota)
All Watonwan County specific forms and documents listed below are included in your immediate download package:
Gift Deed Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Included Watonwan County compliant document last validated/updated 9/12/2024
Gift Deed Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Watonwan County compliant document last validated/updated 8/8/2024
Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
Included Watonwan County compliant document last validated/updated 9/19/2024
The following Minnesota and Watonwan County supplemental forms are included as a courtesy with your order:
When using these Gift Deed forms, the subject real estate must be physically located in Watonwan County. The executed documents should then be recorded in the following office:
Watonwan County Recorder
710 2nd Ave South / PO Box 518, St. James, Minnesota 56081
Hours: 8:00am - 12:00 & 1:00 - 5:00pm M-F
Phone: (507) 375-1216
Local jurisdictions located in Watonwan County include:
- Butterfield
- Darfur
- La Salle
- Lewisville
- Madelia
- Odin
- Saint James
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 Watonwan 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 Watonwan County using our eRecording service.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Watonwan County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Watonwan 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 Watonwan County that you need to transfer you would only need to order our forms once for all of your properties in Watonwan County.
What are supplemental forms?
Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by Minnesota or Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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 Watonwan 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 - ( 4419 Reviews )
RUTH A.
October 25th, 2024
I am so very thankful for the service that you provide for the public, thank you very much.
We deeply appreciate the trust you have placed in our services. Thank you for your valuable feedback and for choosing us.
Nancy R.
October 25th, 2024
Deeds.com is very precise, helpful and friendly. I found the form I needed without any effort and everything worked perfect and smooth. I recommend it 100%. rnThank you.
We are delighted to have been of service. Thank you for the positive review!
Giuseppina M.
October 24th, 2024
Fast, reliable excellent service
Your feedback is greatly appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience!
Arturo P.
August 16th, 2021
Super easy to use! Totally satisfied. Thanks.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Kaleigh S.
April 8th, 2020
I used Deeds.com to record two judgments with the County Recorder's Office. The site was very easy to use and I had my recorded copies back the very next day. I highly recommend their service!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Timothy G.
August 1st, 2020
Easy peezy.
Thank you!
Dhanminder D.
July 30th, 2020
The service was great.
Thank you.
Thank you!
Timothy G.
June 3rd, 2019
Downloadable documents, instructions and a completed sample form were just what I needed. Very pleased and easy to use. Deeds.com will be my first stop for any future documents I may need. Thank you!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Johnnie G.
July 6th, 2020
We had hoped, as this was direct through our State recorder's office, State-specific data would be pre-filled in. Also there is no help when transferring the home title from a Revocable Trust to the living Trustee and new spouse (no example given, no help for which code to use). And the example doesn't match the prior deed revision format submitted by our attorney. So, not the best experience. We may have to get an attorney involved...what we were hoping to avoid
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Linda D.
July 17th, 2019
It was easy to download the form I wanted BUT there were 2 other options listed for "open/download." I didn't want to risk more charges for something I couldn't determine I needed so I passed them up. There were a few others listed with the option to "view" so I did that, without down-loading, and there were no additional charges. I would've liked that opportunity for 2 others that didn't offer "view" so maybe deeds.com missed a sale?
Thank you for your feedback Linda. All the documents available for download in your account are included with your payment, no additional charges.
Natasha M.
January 9th, 2024
Your forms, guides, sample deeds and submission process were accessible, easy to understand and simple. I also was pleasantly surprised by the efficiency, professionalism and ease of staff communicating with me after I uploaded the document to ensure the county accepted it. I will continue to use this website to record deeds. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
DENNIS M.
January 18th, 2023
very simple and complete
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Carol O.
April 3rd, 2023
Easy process as I had an example of my other property deeds to work from plus my most current Real Estate Tax forms.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Carmen R.
November 14th, 2021
I was able to get the form I needed but it would not adjust properly on the page.
Thank you!
Craig L.
October 14th, 2020
Fast and easy and saved me $240. What's not to like? Five stars.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!