Stearns County Transfer on Death Deed Form

Last validated August 17, 2026 by our Forms Development Team

Stearns County Transfer on Death Deed Form

Stearns County Transfer on Death Deed Form

Fill in the blank form formatted to comply with all recording and content requirements.

Document Last Validated 6/5/2026
Stearns County Transfer on Death Deed Guide

Stearns County Transfer on Death Deed Guide

Line by line guide explaining every blank on the form.

Document Last Validated 8/17/2026
Stearns County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Deed Document

Stearns County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Deed Document

Example of a properly completed form for reference.

Document Last Validated 7/17/2026

All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees

Immediate Download • Secure Checkout

Important: Your property must be located in Stearns County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

Where to Record Your Documents

Service Center, Room 2203

Address:
3301 County Road 138
Waite Park, Minnesota 56387

Hours: 8:00am to 4:30pm M-F

Phone: (320) 656-3855

Recording Tips for Stearns County:
  • Check margin requirements - usually 1-2 inches at top
  • Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
  • Recorded documents become public record - avoid including SSNs

Cities and Jurisdictions in Stearns County

Properties in any of these areas use Stearns County forms:

  • Albany
  • Avon
  • Belgrade
  • Brooten
  • Cold Spring
  • Collegeville
  • Elrosa
  • Freeport
  • Greenwald
  • Holdingford
  • Kimball
  • Melrose
  • New Munich
  • Paynesville
  • Richmond
  • Rockville
  • Roscoe
  • Saint Cloud
  • Saint Joseph
  • Saint Martin
  • Saint Stephen
  • Sartell
  • Sauk Centre
  • Waite Park

View Complete Recorder Office Guide

Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Stearns County

How do I get my forms?

Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Stearns 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 Stearns County?

Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable formatting requirements used for recording in Stearns County, including margin requirements, font requirements, and other layout standards. This guarantee applies to formatting, not to the legal sufficiency of information entered by the user or the suitability of a form for a particular transaction.

Can I reuse these forms?

Yes. You can reuse the forms for your personal use. For example, if you have multiple properties in Stearns 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 Stearns County?

Recording fees in Stearns County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (320) 656-3855 for current fees.

Questions answered? Let's get started!

Minnesota's transfer on death deeds are governed by Minn. Stat. 507.071.

Transfer on death deeds are useful estate planning tools for owners of Minnesota real estate. In most cases, when a land owner dies, his/her real property enters the probate system along with the rest of the estate. Some people avoid probate by owning property as joint tenants. The nature of joint tenancy includes the right of survivorship, which, by function of law, automatically distributes a deceased joint tenant's title rights to the surviving tenants. Joint tenants, however, share a current interest in the real property, and all owners must execute any changes or reconveyances. By executing and recording a transfer on death deed instead, owners still avoid the need for probate distribution of that portion of their assets. Transfer on death deeds do NOT pass a current or future interest in the property, so the owner's interests are fully protected while he/she remains alive.

Unlike most other real estate deeds, transfer on death deeds do not convey any rights or interests to the beneficiaries until the grantor owner's death. But, under Minn. Stat. 524.2-702, named beneficiaries must outlive the grantor owners by at least 120 hours to become eligible for the property. The owner retains absolute title to and control over the real property until death. He/she may rent, use, sell or reconvey the land at will, and with no obligation to the beneficiary (Minn. Stat. 507.071, subd. 10). As a result, the beneficiary has no guarantee of any present or future interest in the property. In addition, a "transfer on death deed that is executed, acknowledged, and recorded in accordance with this section is not revoked by the provisions of a will" (subd. 19).

Transfer on death deeds allow flexibility -- in addition to individuals, the grantor owner may "transfer an interest in real property to the trustee of an inter vivos trust even if the trust is revocable, to the trustee of a testamentary trust or to any other entity legally qualified to hold title to real property under the laws of this state" (subd. 9).

Under Minn. Stat. 507.071, transfer on death deeds must:

- convey or assign an interest in real property (subd. 2)

- name one or more grantee beneficiaries (subds. 2 and 4)

- explicitly state that it takes effect at the death of the named grantor owner(s)

- comply with other Minnesota deed requirements including joinder of spouse in conveying homestead (507.02, subd. 2)

- standard recording requirements regarding legibility, recordability, notarization, and original signature (507.24)

- Notice recording statutes (507.34, 508.48, 508A.48)

Ultimately, transfer on death deeds offer a useful alternative for Minnesota land owners who wish to pass property to specific beneficiaries without probate intervention.

NOTE: All actions related to executing, revoking, or otherwise changing a Minnesota transfer on death deed must be submitted for recording in the county where at least part of the land is located, while the grantor owner is alive. (507.071, subd. 8).

Important terms:

Grantor owner: "means an owner named as a grantor in a transfer on death deed upon whose death the conveyance or transfer of the described real property is conditioned" (subd. 1c).

Owner: "means a person having an ownership or other interest in all or part of the real property to be conveyed or transferred by a transfer on death deed" (subd. 1d).

Beneficiary or grantee beneficiary: "means a person or entity named as a grantee beneficiary in a transfer on death deed, including a successor grantee beneficiary" (subd. 1a).

(Minnesota TOD Deed Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

Important: Your property must be located in Stearns County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.

This Transfer on Death Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Stearns County.

Our Promise

The documents you receive here are guaranteed to meet or exceed the applicable Stearns County recording format requirements. If there is a rejection caused by our formatting, we will correct the issue or refund your payment. This guarantee applies to document formatting only and does not extend to information entered by the user, the selection of the form, or the legal effect of the completed document.

Save Time and Money

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