Whatcom County Transfer on Death Deed Form

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

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

Whatcom County Completed Example of the Transfer on Death Deed Document
Example of a properly completed Washington Transfer on Death Deed document for reference.
All 3 documents above included • One-time purchase • No recurring fees
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Additional Washington and Whatcom County documents included at no extra charge:
Where to Record Your Documents
Whatcom County Auditor: Recording
Bellingham, Washington 98225
Hours: 8:30 to 4:30 M-F
Phone: (360) 778-5100
Recording Tips for Whatcom County:
- Bring your driver's license or state-issued photo ID
- Ask if they accept credit cards - many offices are cash/check only
- Bring extra funds - fees can vary by document type and page count
Cities and Jurisdictions in Whatcom County
Properties in any of these areas use Whatcom County forms:
- Acme
- Bellingham
- Blaine
- Custer
- Deming
- Everson
- Ferndale
- Lummi Island
- Lynden
- Maple Falls
- Nooksack
- Point Roberts
- Sumas
Hours, fees, requirements, and more for Whatcom County
How do I get my forms?
Forms are available for immediate download after payment. The Whatcom 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 Whatcom County?
Yes. Our form blanks are guaranteed to meet or exceed all formatting requirements set forth by Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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 Whatcom County?
Recording fees in Whatcom County vary. Contact the recorder's office at (360) 778-5100 for current fees.
Questions answered? Let's get started!
Real estate owners in Washington have an estate planning option: the transfer on death deed (TODD). Find the full text in the Revised Statutes of Washington at Chapter 64.80.
This statute is based on the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act (URPTODA). Along with Washington, a growing number of states are choosing to adopt the provisions of the URPTODA. The new law allows landowners to direct the distribution of what is often their most significant asset, their real estate, with a correctly executed and recorded transfer on death deed.
Transfer on death deeds are nontestamentary, which means ownership of the property passes to the beneficiary without instructions in a will or the need for probate (64.80.040). Unnecessary conflicts are likely to add confusion and expense, so best practices dictate that landholders should take care to ensure that their wills and TODDs lead to the same outcomes.
Washington's version of the URPTODA sets out the specific requirements for lawful transfer on death deeds:
- The capacity required to make or revoke a transfer on death deed is the same as the capacity required to make a will (64.80.050, 11.12.010).
- It must contain the essential elements and formalities of a properly recordable inter vivos deed, such as warranty or quitclaim deed (64.80.060(1))
- It must state that the transfer to the designated beneficiary is to occur at the transferor's death (64.80.060(2))
- It must be recorded before the transferor's death in the office of the clerk of the county commission in the county where the property is located (64.80.060(3)).
The named beneficiary gains no present rights to the property, only a potential future interest. Instead, the transferors retain absolute control during their lives. This includes the freedom to sell or transfer it to someone else, and to modify or revoke the intended transfer on death (64.80.090). These details, along with the fact that TODDs only convey the property rights remaining, if any, at the owner's death, explain why they do not require notice or consideration (64.80.070).
According to 64.80.100(1)(a), the beneficiary gains equitable interest in the property ONLY when the owner dies. Note, however, that the beneficiary must be alive at the time of the transferor's death or the interest returns to the estate (64.80.100(1)(b)). To prevent this from happening, the owner may identify one or more contingent beneficiaries. All beneficiaries take title subject to any obligations (contracts, easements, etc.) associated with the property when the transferor dies (according to 64.80.100(2)).
With the new transfer on death deeds, real property owners in Washington have access to a convenient, flexible tool for managing one aspect of a comprehensive estate plan. Even so, a TODD may not be appropriate for everyone. Since each situation is unique, contact an attorney with specific questions or for complex circumstances.
(Washington TODD Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)
Important: Your property must be located in Whatcom County to use these forms. Documents should be recorded at the office below.
This Transfer on Death Deed meets all recording requirements specific to Whatcom County.
Our Promise
The documents you receive here will meet, or exceed, the Whatcom 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 Whatcom 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.
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