Orange County Transfer on Death Deed Form

Orange County Transfer on Death Deed Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Orange County Transfer on Death Deed Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Orange County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Deed Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Orange County Notice of Revocable Transfer on Death Deed
Provide this form to your beneficiary(s).
All 4 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Immediate Download • Secure Checkout
Additional California and Orange County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
County Administration South
Santa Ana, California 92701
Hours: 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday
Phone: (714) 834-2500
Old Orange County Courthouse
Santa Ana, California 92701
Hours: Hours: 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
Phone: (714) 834-2500
South County Branch Office
Santa Ana, California 92653
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:30 pm / Recording until 4:00pm
Phone: (714) 834-2500
North County Branch Office
Fullerton , California 92832
Hours: Monday through Friday 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Phone: (714) 834-2500
Recording Tips for Orange County:
- Check that your notary's commission hasn't expired
- Documents must be on 8.5 x 11 inch white paper
- Recording fees may differ from what's posted online - verify current rates
- Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
Cities and Jurisdictions in Orange County
Properties in any of these areas use Orange County forms:
- Aliso Viejo
- Anaheim
- Atwood
- Brea
- Buena Park
- Capistrano Beach
- Corona Del Mar
- Costa Mesa
- Cypress
- Dana Point
- East Irvine
- El Toro
- Foothill Ranch
- Fountain Valley
- Fullerton
- Garden Grove
- Huntington Beach
- Irvine
- La Habra
- La Palma
- Ladera Ranch
- Laguna Beach
- Laguna Hills
- Laguna Niguel
- Laguna Woods
- Lake Forest
- Los Alamitos
- Midway City
- Mission Viejo
- Newport Beach
- Newport Coast
- Orange
- Placentia
- Rancho Santa Margarita
- San Clemente
- San Juan Capistrano
- Santa Ana
- Seal Beach
- Silverado
- Stanton
- Sunset Beach
- Surfside
- Trabuco Canyon
- Tustin
- Villa Park
- Westminster
- Yorba Linda
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Orange County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Orange County forms will be in your account ready to download to your computer. An account is created for you during checkout if you don't have one. Forms are NOT emailed.
Are these forms guaranteed to be recordable in Orange County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Orange County including margin requirements, content requirements, font and font size requirements.
Can I reuse these forms?
Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Orange County you only need to order once.
What do I need to use these forms?
The forms are PDFs that you fill out on your computer. You'll need Adobe Reader (free software that most computers already have). You do NOT enter your property information online - you download the blank forms and complete them privately on your own computer.
Are there any recurring fees?
No. This is a one-time purchase. Nothing to cancel, no memberships, no recurring fees.
How much does it cost to record in Orange County?
Recording fees in Orange County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (714) 834-2500 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Use this form to transfer real estate at death, but outside of a will and without the need for probate distribution. Execute the TODD form, then record it during the course of your life, and within 60 days of the signing date (5626(a)). Note that unlike grant deeds or quitclaim deeds, there is no change in ownership when transfer on death deeds are recorded (5650), so they are exempt from transfer taxes and the Preliminary Change of Ownership Report (PCOR).
Section 5650 explains that while you are alive, you retain absolute ownership of and control over your property. You may sell, mortgage, rent, or otherwise use the real estate in any lawful manner, without input from or notice to the beneficiaries, or even modify or revoke the future transfer.
Be aware, too, that the TODD is NOT affected by provisions in your will (5642(b)). Best practices dictate that any change to an estate plan initiates a review of the whole thing, so to reduce the chance for conflict, ensure that the transfer on death deed reinforces the will and other related documents.
Beneficiaries take title to the property under the rules set out at section 5652. Any associated debts, obligations, or agreements in place when you die follow the real estate to the beneficiaries. In addition, the title transfers without warranty, so the beneficiaries might find themselves liable for future claims against the property. For these reasons, among others, some beneficiaries might wish to disclaim the gift (5652(a)(1)).
As it stands, California's transfer on death deed is not valid for real estate held in joint tenancy or as community property with right of survivorship (5664).
5624. A revocable transfer on death deed is not effective unless all of the following conditions are satisfied:
(a) The deed is signed by the transferor and dated.
(b) The deed is signed by two witnesses who were present at the same time and who witnessed either the signing of the deed or the transferor's acknowledgment that the transferor had signed the deed.
(c) The deed is acknowledged before a notary public.
SEC. 10. Section 5625 is added to the Probate Code, to read:
5625. (a) Any person generally competent to be a witness may act as a witness to a revocable transfer on death deed.
(b) A revocable transfer on death deed is not invalid because it is signed by an interested witness.
(c) If a beneficiary of a revocable transfer on death deed is also a subscribing witness, there is a presumption that the witness procured the revocable transfer on death deed by duress, menace, fraud, or undue influence. This presumption is a presumption affecting the burden of proof. This presumption does not apply where the witness is named as beneficiary solely in a fiduciary capacity.
Overall, the Simple Revocable Transfer on Death Deed offers a convenient, flexible option to consider as part of an overall estate plan. Even so, they may not be appropriate in all cases. Contact an attorney for complex situations or with any questions.
Included NOTICE OF REVOCABLE TRANSFER ON DEATH DEED Form
5681. (a) After the death of the transferor, the beneficiary of a revocable transfer on death deed shall serve notice on the transferor's heirs, along with a copy of the revocable transfer on death deed and a copy of the transferor's death certificate. (b) The notice required by subdivision (a) shall be in substantially the following form:
(California Transfer on Death Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Orange County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Transfer on Death Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Orange County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Orange County recording requirements for formatting. If there's an issue caused by our formatting, we'll make it right and refund your payment.
Save Time and Money
Get your Orange County Transfer on Death Deed form done right the first time with Deeds.com Uniform Conveyancing Blanks. At Deeds.com, we understand that your time and money are valuable resources, and we don't want you to face a penalty fee or rejection imposed by a county recorder for submitting nonstandard documents. We constantly review and update our forms to meet rapidly changing state and county recording requirements for roughly 3,500 counties and local jurisdictions.
4.8 out of 5 - ( 4580 Reviews )
Brenda M.
February 3rd, 2021
I was glad that I paid to get a copy of the gift deed it help me out a lot and the copy of the example how to fill everything out was great
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Edward O.
January 28th, 2020
east too do.. hope it works thanks
Thank you!
Robert T.
January 2nd, 2019
Perfect. Downloaded the forms with no issues, filled them out, had them notarized and recorded all in just a few hours (most of that time was spent at the recorder's office). Highly recommend.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Goran L.
August 1st, 2020
Fast and convenient.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Fallon G.
March 7th, 2025
Very easy to use, thank you!
Knowing our customers are happy is our top priority. Thank you for the wonderful feedback!
Kelli W.
October 5th, 2022
Fantastic documents! Easy to complete, looked great after I filled them in and printed them. No problems with the notary or recorder (recorder clerk actually said they see deeds.com documents all the time and they love em cause it makes their job easier). Highly recommend!!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Harry S.
March 30th, 2021
This is my first time using the service. Wow! How efficient and effortless! Keep up the good work!
Thank you!
David A.
May 3rd, 2022
Forms were just what I needed. Very well explained and easy to use.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Leadon N.
July 9th, 2022
Forms were easy to find, print, and complete.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
MARY LACEY M.
April 11th, 2024
I am extremely impressed with the quality of this service. They are a pleasure to work with and I know I can rely on them.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Kenneth H.
January 9th, 2020
Easy download, informative examples. Very good experience.
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Don B.
November 2nd, 2020
This was my first experience with Deeds. Web site instructions are detailed and easy to understand. This was a smooth process. Highly recommend to anyone.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
JOSEPH W.
September 17th, 2021
Easy peezy!
Thank you!
Roland P.
December 28th, 2021
The website is easy to navigate. Unfortunately, you were not able to record the deed. However, I appreciate the fast response.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
James G.
March 30th, 2022
Very Happy. Forms saved me from making some very silly mistakes had I done them on my own.
Thank you!