Otero County Beneficiary Deed Form

Otero County Beneficiary Deed Form
Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Otero County Beneficiary Deed Guide
Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Otero County Completed Example of the Beneficiary Deed Document
Example of a properly completed form for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
Additional Colorado and Otero County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Otero County Clerk and Recorder
La Junta, Colorado 81050
Hours: 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday
Phone: (719) 383-3020
Recording Tips for Otero County:
- Both spouses typically need to sign if property is jointly owned
- Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs
- Leave recording info boxes blank - the office fills these
- Make copies of your documents before recording - keep originals safe
Cities and Jurisdictions in Otero County
Properties in any of these areas use Otero County forms:
- Cheraw
- Fowler
- La Junta
- Manzanola
- Rocky Ford
- Swink
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Otero County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Otero 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 Otero County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Otero 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 Otero 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 Otero County?
Recording fees in Otero County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (719) 383-3020 for current fees.
Have other questions? Contact our support team
Beneficiary deeds in Colorado are governed by C.R.S. 15-15-401, et seq. (2012).
Under this statute, which was signed into law in 2004, a beneficiary deed is defined as "a deed, subject to revocation by the owner, which conveys an interest in real property and which contains language that the conveyance is to be effective upon the death of the owner and which may be in substantially the form described in section 15-15-404" (15-15-401(1)). To expand on this rather bare-bones definition, beneficiary deeds are useful estate planning tools that allow an individual who owns real estate in Colorado to pass that property to one or more designated grantee beneficiaries, but only after the owner's death. Note that this is a non-testamentary transfer, however, which means it is not included in a will, nor can it be cancelled by one (15-15-404(1), 15-15-405(4)). In addition, the conveyance is finalized without need for probate supervision.
The aspect of beneficiary deeds that makes them unique (and differentiates them from an ordinary life estate or joint tenancy deed) is the fact that the owner retains absolute ownership of and control over the property during his/her lifetime, and may revoke or change the beneficiary designation at will, without any obligation to notify the current grantee beneficiary (15-15-402). There is generally no consideration involved with these instruments because the future interest is not guaranteed. In fact, there is not even an obligation to inform the grantee beneficiary about the deed in the first place.
To revoke an executed and recorded beneficiary deed, the owner has two options:
1. Complete and record a revocation form (15-15-405(1)).
2. Complete and record another beneficiary deed, granting the land to someone else when the owner dies (15-15-405(2)).
Both options require that the revised instruments must be recorded during the owner's life to take effect, and any changes to the beneficiary designation are applied in order of execution, not by the recording date (15-15-405(3)). Even so, an unrecorded but executed revocation or modified beneficiary deed is void.
While beneficiary deeds are relatively straightforward instruments, there are a few important things to keep in mind about them:
- To take effect, the executed beneficiary deed must be recorded "prior to the death of the owner in the office of the clerk and recorder in the county where the real property is located" (15-15-404(1)).
- According to 15-15-403, no "person who is an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance for which it would be permissible for the department of health care policy and financing to assert a claim pursuant to section 25.5-4-301 or 25.5-4-302, C.R.S., shall be entitled to such medical assistance if the person has in effect a beneficiary deed. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15-15-402 (1), the execution of a beneficiary deed by an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance as described in this section shall cause the property to be considered a countable resource in accordance with section 25.5-4-302 (6), C.R.S., and applicable rules."
- If the property identified on the beneficiary deed is held in joint ownership, 15-15-408 states that "title to the interest shall vest in the designated grantee-beneficiary only if the joint tenant-grantor is the last to die of all of the joint tenants of such interest. If a joint tenant-grantor is not the last joint tenant to die, the beneficiary deed shall not be effective, and the beneficiary deed shall not make the grantee-beneficiary an owner in joint tenancy with the surviving joint tenant or tenants. A beneficiary deed shall not sever a joint tenancy."
A word about grantee beneficiaries:
In most cases, the owner leaves the property to a family member. The statute does not, however, limit the conveyance to relatives. It defines grantee beneficiaries as "one or more persons or entities capable of holding title to real property designated in a beneficiary deed to receive an interest in real property upon the death of the owner. "Grantee-beneficiary" includes, but is not limited to, a successor grantee-beneficiary" (15-15-401(3)). If one or more named grantee beneficiaries are part of the owner's family, they are frequently identified as such for additional clarity.
Many owners wish to designate one or more successor grantee beneficiaries, in case the original one(s) are unable or unwilling to accept the real estate. If no successor is named and "one of multiple grantee-beneficiaries fails to survive the owner, and no provision for such contingency is made in the beneficiary deed, the share of the deceased grantee-beneficiary shall be proportionately added to, and pass as a part of, the shares of the surviving grantee-beneficiaries" (15-15-407(5)). Further, if no successor is named and there are no previously identified grantee beneficiaries in whom to vest title, the property typically reverts back to the deceased owner's estate for probate distribution.
As defined in 15-15-414, a "grantee-beneficiary may refuse to accept all or any part of the real property interest described in a beneficiary deed. A grantee-beneficiary may disclaim all or any part of the real property interest described in a beneficiary deed by any method provided by law. If a grantee-beneficiary refuses to accept or disclaims any real property interest, the grantee-beneficiary shall have no liability by reason of being designated as a grantee-beneficiary under this part 4."
Overall, Colorado beneficiary deeds are useful estate planning tools that can streamline the process of conveying ownership of real property to one or more designated grantee beneficiaries, free from the cost and complication of probate. They may, however, have an impact on taxes as well as eligibility for asset-based local, state, or federal programs. To ensure the most favorable outcome, carefully consider the associated risks and advantages before finalizing this or any other estate planning decision.
(Colorado Beneficiary Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Otero County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Beneficiary Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Otero County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Otero 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 Otero County Beneficiary 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 - ( 4572 Reviews )
Mary D.
January 21st, 2022
Gift Deed is exactly what was required. Thank you!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Dan M.
November 8th, 2024
Quick ... Easy ... Great Instructions ... Easy Peasy ...
We are grateful for your feedback and looking forward to serving you again. Thank you!
Scott K.
July 2nd, 2022
The beneficiary deed was acceptable to the county clerk and my notarized official deed was mailed to me. The Missouri-based deed met with official approval so all is well in the land that time forgot.
Thank you!
Bruce L.
December 30th, 2023
Fantastic. The forms were easy to read and complete. Came with a guide and examples of how it looked completed Thanks!
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Eldridge S.
August 5th, 2019
very pleased to attain this important document
We appreciate your business and value your feedback. Thank you. Have a wonderful day!
Michael W.
July 27th, 2021
Appreciate the help with DC's non-intuitive forms. Superb service.
Thank you!
ralph f.
January 31st, 2019
I VERY MUCH APPRECIATE THE PROMPT RESPONSE & HELPFULNESS. I WILL DEFINITELY USE THIS SERVICE IN THE FUTURE. THANK YOU!
Thank you Ralph, we appreciate your feedback.
FRANK D.
September 28th, 2019
Excellent software along with my other Will/Trust programs. I always use your program regarding deeds.
Thank you!
Guido d.
November 17th, 2020
Excellent service. Easy to use, easy to upload, and very cost effective!
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Karen M.
May 6th, 2019
This was a very easy and organized system to use.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
mark L.
April 18th, 2020
i really liked that the information i received from Deed .com concerning deed and title transfer for representative made it so i was able to find the correct forms that i needed. It was a bonus that Deed.com had the forms and instructions that i required
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Arletta B.
September 16th, 2021
Fantastic service, saved me a ton of time and running around. Thanks!
Thank you!
Carmen H.
February 2nd, 2021
your site was a godsend for us, really appreciate the sample and instructions you provide, was very useful. And that we can save and use later, you guys are great. I have used your service twice, and will be using you in the future too. Thank you again.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!
Felincia L.
September 28th, 2024
The process was fast and efficient. I did get a bit confused after entering info for my package but soon realized I had completed this part of the process and only needed to leave the page and wait for review of the document and then the invoice. It was pretty simple. After payment of the invoice I was notified that the document had been submitted. A few hours later I received notice that the document was recorded by the city. It was fast!
We are motivated by your feedback to continue delivering excellence. Thank you!
Michael T.
January 29th, 2021
Very easy to find what I was looking for and the cost was reasonable. The documents saved me a lot of time and were easy to use.
Thank you for your feedback. We really appreciate it. Have a great day!