Typically, for conventional loans and VA loans, lenders require an explanation for any gift you receive that's over half the value of your total household monthly income. For instance, if you earn $5,000 a month in income, lenders require a letter for any gifts you receive that are more than $2,500.
Most mortgage providers will have a template that you can follow, but in general, your gift letter should include: The donor's name, address and phone number. The donor's relationship to the client. The dollar amount of the gift. The date when the funds were (or will be) transferred.
Use Form 709 to report: Transfers subject to the federal gift and certain generation-skipping transfer (GST) taxes.
In general, a gift letter should include details about the donor, the recipient, the amount of the gift, and the purpose of the gift. It's also important to note that gift letters should be signed and dated by both the donor and the recipient.
Just like wills, there is generally no requirement that a contract be notarized in order to be legally binding. However, if a party who signed a business agreement decides to dispute that agreement in court, a notarized contract can help a great deal.
They are legally binding — While giving a family member a financial gift may not feel like a big deal to some people, gift letters are not only a formality. They are a legally binding document that both parties must sign.
Most mortgage providers will have a template that you can follow, but in general, your gift letter should include: The donor's name, address and phone number. The donor's relationship to the client. The dollar amount of the gift. The date when the funds were (or will be) transferred.