Question 1

What is a Deed of Gift?

Accepted Answer

A Deed of Gift is a legal document that records the unconditional transfer of assets, usually money from one person (the Donor) to another (the Donee).

Whether you have already transferred the funds or are planning to do so soon, a Deed of Gift provides vital clarity for the future. It serves as permanent proof that the transfer was intended as a gift, protecting both parties from potential disagreements or legal challenges down the line.

Question 2

Why do I need a Deed of Gift?

Accepted Answer

A Deed of Gift is the best way to create a permanent legal record of your generosity. Without one, large transfers of money can often be misidentified as loans or become subject to disputes in the future.

Common reasons to use a Deed of Gift:

Helping with a home — Most banks require a formal record when parents provide a deposit for a child's first home to prove the money doesn't need to be repaid.

Funding a Family Trust — When you move personal assets or cash into a trust, a Deed ensures the transfer is documented correctly for asset protection.

Forgiving a debt — If you previously lent money (a debt) but have now decided you don't want it back, a Deed of Gift "cancels" that debt legally.

Relationship property protection — It helps clarify that the funds were a gift to a specific person, which can be vital if that person later goes through a relationship separation.

Question 3

What do I need before starting my Deed of Gift?

Accepted Answer

To make the process as smooth as possible, we recommend gathering a few key details before you begin the questionnaire. While you can always come back to it later, having these items on hand usually means you can finish your draft in under 15 minutes.

You will need:
Recipient Details — The full legal names and addresses of the people or entities (like a trust) receiving the gift.

Gift Details — The exact dollar amount or a clear description of the assets (such as vehicle details or property addresses).

Transfer Date — When the gift was made, or when you plan to make it.

Terms of the Gift — Any specific intentions you want to record (for example, if the gift is specifically for a home deposit).

Question 4

Do I need legal advice before purchasing a Deed of Gift?

Accepted Answer

While you can purchase and draft your document through Agreeable without a lawyer, we strongly recommend seeking professional legal advice before signing.

A Deed of Gift can have significant tax, financial, or estate implications that vary depending on your specific situation. If you are at all unsure about how the gift might affect things like rest home subsidies, tax obligations, or future inheritance, expert advice is essential.

Question 5

What are the payment methods?

Accepted Answer

For your Online Agreement ($159) at the checkout page you can pay using:

- Debit or Credit Card (Visa, Mastercard, Amex)

- Afterpay — Spread your payments over four easy instalments.

Question 6

What kind of technology do I need to complete the agreement

Accepted Answer

Here’s what we recommend for a smooth experience:

For completing your agreement:
A reliable browser — You will need an up-to-date browser (we recommend Google Chrome)
A solid internet connection — To ensure your progress is saved instantly.
A laptop or computer — While you can use your mobile phone, a larger screen makes it much easier to review your details.

Question 7

How long does it take to draft the Deed of Gift?

Accepted Answer

Most customers finish the questionnaire in 5 to 15 minutes. Once completed, our system builds your bespoke Deed immediately ready for download.

Question 8

Do I need to complete the questionnaire in one sitting?

Accepted Answer

While you can exit and return to the questionnaire as often as you need, completing it on one device in one sitting is usually the fastest way to get your draft.

Question 9

What if we make a mistake or need to go back?

Accepted Answer

Our questionnaire is designed to be flexible, allowing you to move backward and forward to update your answers as you go.

If you realise you’ve missed something after you’ve finished, we’re still here to help. Our team can manually step in to fix errors or adjust the wording to fit your situation perfectly.

Question 10

We completed the agreement. What happens next?

Accepted Answer

You are not required to seek formal legal advice before you sign a Deed. However, we recommend seeking legal advice before signing as this will help you understand the consequences of your Deed.

Question 11

Is there anything else I should consider?

Accepted Answer

If you are gifting money to a child to help them buy a home, a Deed of Gift is only the first step. To ensure that money stays with your child if they ever separate from their partner, we strongly recommend they also sign a Relationship Property Agreement (Prenup).

How it works in practice:
Imagine Sophie’s parents gift her $100,000 for a house deposit. Sophie and her partner, Sam, buy a home together. Under New Zealand law, that home (and the deposit) could eventually become "relationship property" to be split 50/50.

The Deed of Gift proves the $100,000 was a gift to Sophie, not a loan.

The Prenup ensures that if Sophie and Sam separate, the first $100,000 from the house sale goes back to Sophie before the rest of the equity is split.

By using both documents, Sophie can clearly reference the Deed of Gift in her prenup, creating a "paper trail" that makes protecting the family's contribution simple and indisputable.

Deed of Gift

How it works

1. Purchase your Deed of Gift

2. Complete the Questionnaire

3. Get professional legal advice

Frequently asked questions