Beneficiary Deed Archives

March 18, 2022April 25, 2024

As Boomers Retire, the Transfer on Death Deed Comes of Age

The transfer on death deed comes of age as Boomers retire

Each day, about 10,000 baby boomers reach retirement age. Their recent frustrations, as they’ve grappled with Covid-19, have only accelerated the national jump to retirement. And now, this large cohort of retirees is thinking about getting its financial affairs squared away.

Baby boomers still hold the lion’s share of real estate assets in the United States. At some point, their thoughts turn to what they’ll do with the houses they own. Right on cue, the concept of the transfer on death deed is rising in popularity. This year, the Washington Post wrote about TOD deeds as good alternatives to wills and trusts. Forming a trust can expensive, the article notes, and might be too complicated for someone with few assets beyond the home.

This new breed of beneficiary deed will transfer a great deal of real estate wealth to upcoming generations — without the use of a will or the complications of joint ownership.

The transfer on death deed does for houses what a beneficiary form does for a retirement account or insurance benefits. It’s main selling points? Simplicity. Control. And the ability to transfer ownership of property upon death, without putting the beneficiaries through the probate process.

November 27, 2020April 25, 2024

What Happens When Wills and Deeds Conflict?

When a person passes away, the death certificate and last will are submitted to the county probate court. A person representative begins the process of passing assets along as the will directs — except when other valid legal instruments have priority. One of those instruments is the all-important real estate deed.

Houses can be left to their owners’ chosen beneficiaries through wills. But when someone who co-owns a house passes away, questions may arise as to what the last will says versus what the deed says. In case of a conflict, does the last will get the last word? Short answer: probably not. The long answer starts with the way the title is vested.

Survivorship Rights Vs. Tenancies in Common

When an owner dies, a properly signed and recorded deed directs and channels the person’s property interest to its next owner, typically according to the following rules.

August 28, 2015April 25, 2024

The Guide to Beneficiary Deeds

A will might seem like the simplest way to leave something to a loved one or other beneficiary, and it’s certainly the most common, but wills must be probated. This necessitates a lengthy process that can slow the transfer of property from a decedent to a beneficiary; it also opens the door to will disputes that can add further delays. Special deeds, sometimes called transfer-on-death (TOD) deeds, simplify the transfer, but they come with their own set of potential legal issues.

February 13, 2013April 25, 2024

Property Transfers using a Beneficiary Deed in Arizona

The Arizona Beneficiary Deed, governed by Arizona Revised Statutes 33-405, is a useful estate planning tool. It gives owners/grantors of Arizona real estate the ability to initiate, but not complete, the transfer process to a designated beneficiary while retaining absolute control in the property. This means the owner (grantor) may sell, rent, mortgage or otherwise use the property with no penalty for waste or obligation to the named beneficiary. In addition, because the conveyance is not completed until the owner’s death, he/she may change or remove beneficiary designations at will. Because of the potential for change, there is no obligation for the beneficiary/grantee to provide consideration (money or something else of value). A.R.S. 33-405(L) contains the form and requirements for revoking a beneficiary deed.