Dorchester County Gift Deed Form (South Carolina)

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

Gift Deed Form

Dorchester County Gift Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.
Included Dorchester County compliant document last validated/updated 9/26/2024

Gift Deed Guide

Dorchester County Gift Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.
Included Dorchester County compliant document last validated/updated 8/15/2024

Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Dorchester County Completed Example of the Gift Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.
Included Dorchester County compliant document last validated/updated 12/20/2024

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

Dorchester County Register of Deeds

201 Johnston St / PO Box 38, Saint George, South Carolina 29477

Hours: 8:30 to 5:00 Monday through Friday

Phone: (843) 563-0181 and 832-0181 for Summerville

Local jurisdictions located in Dorchester County include:

  • Dorchester
  • Grover
  • Harleyville
  • North Charleston
  • Reevesville
  • Ridgeville
  • Saint George
  • Summerville

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

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

What are supplemental forms?

Often when a deed is recorded, additional documents are required by South Carolina or Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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.

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. A gift deed 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, and vesting. Vesting describes how the grantee holds title to the property. For South Carolina residential property, the primary methods for holding title are tenancy in common and joint tenancy. A grant of ownership of real estate to two or more unmarried persons is presumed to create a tenancy in common, unless a right of survivorship is expressly created in the conveyance (S.C. Code Ann. 27-7-40(a)).

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. In South Carolina, the grantor must sign the deed in front of two witnesses and in the presence of an individual authorized by the state to administer an oath. Record the completed deed at the local county Recorder's office, along with an Affidavit of True Consideration (S.C. Code Ann. 12-24-70(A)(1)).

The grantor is responsible for paying 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. In accordance with federal law, individuals are permitted an annual exclusion of $15,000 on gifts. This means that if a gift is valued below $15,000, a federal gift tax return (Form 709) does not need to be filed. However, if the gift is something that could possibly be disputed by the IRS -- such as real property -- a grantor may benefit from filing a Form 709 [2].

In South Carolina, there is no state gift tax. Gifts of real property in South Carolina are, however, subject to the federal gift tax. The grantor is responsible for paying the tax, but if the grantor does not pay the gift tax, the grantee will be held liable [1]. 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

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

Our Promise

The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Dorchester 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 Dorchester 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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