Lawpath - Gift deed

Download
the following template
- Your first template is free
We’re reader-supported and may be paid when you visit links to partner sites. We don’t compare all products in the market, but we’re working on it!
Whether it's for Christmas, a birthday or 'just because', when giving a gift it's not usually our first instinct to draft a lengthy legal document. If you're thinking about transferring property to someone as a gift or with no expectation of payment, however, you might want to consider a gift deed.
Read on to find out exactly what a gift deed is, when you might need one and where you can find free templates to help you prepare your own.
A gift deed, sometimes referred to as a deed of gift, is a legal document used to transfer ownership of property from between parties when the giver doesn't want payment for it from the recipient. Property can be a sum of money, goods or actual property (realty).
A gift deed acts as proof of the transfer and helps to avoid any misunderstandings of ownership. It is also irrevocable and once the deed has been executed, a transfer must be made to the recipient.
Download this template at LawpathA gift deed is useful when one party wants to voluntarily gift property with conclusive evidence of their intentions. This helps in cases where there could be a misunderstanding as to who owns the property or whether the property was loaned instead of gifted.
Many people use a gift deed when gifting property to family members or close friends. A gift deed shows what the giver's intentions are upfront, especially to parties who believe they have a claim to the property.
Both a gift deed and a will are legal documents that allow you to transfer ownership of your property to another party. The main difference between the two is that the property is exchanged immediately following execution of a gift deed, while the transfer takes effect after the death of the person executing a will.
Depending on the property being transferred, there are also different tax treatments for a will vs a gift deed.
The aim of a gift deed is to provide clear evidence of the gift giver's intentions to transfer ownership of property and remove any doubt for anyone who believes they have a claim to the property.
A gift deed should have a few standard elements including:
The gift deed should include that the gift giver is transferring the property voluntarily, out of their own choice without any force or coercion.
While it is not compulsory to execute a gift deed to gift property, having one in place creates a valid documentary record. In many instances, a gift deed should be sufficient proof of transfer of ownership. In some cases it's not legally enforceable if the gift recipient requires further help from the giver to complete a transfer.
The type of property being gifted might mean there are additional requirements for a transfer to be legally recognised. For anything more complicated than personal goods, you should consider legal advice to make sure a gift deed is appropriate.
There are two types of property when it comes to gift deeds: movable (eg. jewellery) and immovable (eg. real estate). You will need to register the gift deed if the property being gifted is immovable. There may also be several types of fees and taxes that will need to be paid by both the gift giver and the receiver when transferring property to family or friends using a gift deed.
When it comes to something as complicated as transferring property, it's best to use a template to make sure you capture all the necessary elements of a gift deed. There are many samples and examples available online to give you an idea of what to include. Some legal websites even offer free gift deed templates where you can input your information and download the completed document to be printed.
Navigating the world of legalese is never easy, especially when you're trying to do something that should be simple, like giving a gift. Fortunately, there are several resources available online to help you.
Below we've listed a few options to get your hands on a gift deed template and take the guesswork out of creating your document.
All the key info you need to know to sell shares you inherited or received as a gift.
A guide to help you start your web developer business off on the right foot.
Do you love working with animals? Find out how to start your pet sitting business.
Get set up to provide support services remotely with our guide to launching a virtual assistant company.
Find the right granny flat insurance, whether you're renting yours out or you've moved into one.
Find templates that help you write a GDPR-compliant privacy policy for your business.
From qualifications to getting the right insurance in place, here’s our guide to starting your beautician business.
Save yourself tax dollars with a Division 7A loan agreement.
How to hire an experienced harassment lawyer to make sure you receive a fair outcome for your claim.
Rebrand and evolve your business the right way with a change of business name template.