Category: Transfer on Death Deed
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The Transfer on Death Deed: Is It Always Simpler Than Probate?
Passing property along when you no longer live in it shouldn’t be a huge hassle. And that’s why an increasingly popular choice is the transfer on death deed. This is a real deed, which designates a beneficiary on the real estate title. If you have a beneficiary in mind, and you aren’t already co-owners with…
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Staying Informed About California Transfer on Death Deeds
This year has been an interesting one for California’s revocable transfer on death deed. Beginning in 2022, California homeowners using TOD deeds (sometimes just called TODDs) must have two adult witnesses sign the document. So, for a valid TOD deed, you must sign the document, have your signature notarized, have two witnesses, and file the…
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Estate Planning With a Transfer on Death Deed
New Rules for California Homeowners Since 2016, California has been offering homeowners a very simple way to transfer their homes to beneficiaries. It’s called the transfer on death deed — also written as TOD deed, TODD, or beneficiary deed. A TOD deed, where a state allows it, enables a named beneficiary to take title without…
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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…
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Update: The State of the Transfer on Death Deed
Ever thought about placing some of your key assets in instruments that bypass the probate process? In a number of states, homeowners have the option of placing their real estate in a transfer on death deed. Think of a retirement account that’s transferred to its designated beneficiary on death. In the same way, with a…
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Adding Someone to Your Real Estate Deed? Know the Risks.
It’s your home. You might wish to add another person—perhaps an intimate friend or a family member. Doing this is a relatively simple action. And you have the right to do it. Still, be sure to consider the unintended consequences. However well-intended your desire to bring a loved one onto your real estate deed, the…
