10/04/2026
One sheet of paper can keep the most valuable thing most families own out of court.
It is called a transfer on death deed. You sign it, get it notarized and record it with your county. Nothing changes while you are alive. The day you die, the house belongs to the person you named, with no probate case for that house.
As of today, October 1, 2026, Maryland homeowners can use one too. Delaware added the option last December. More than 30 states now allow it.
What the owner keeps:
• The right to sell, rent or refinance without asking anyone
• The right to change the beneficiary or cancel the deed
• For the heir, a cost basis reset to the home's value on the date of death
The deed only works if it is recorded before the owner dies. A signed deed sitting in a drawer does nothing, and the house goes through probate as if the deed never existed.
Worth knowing before signing one:
• The house still answers for the owner's debts if the rest of the estate falls short
• The mortgage does not disappear. The heir inherits the house with the loan attached
• If the only beneficiary dies first, that share lapses. Naming a backup matters
• A later will cannot override the deed. Only a new recorded deed or revocation can
• In some states, Medicaid estate recovery can still reach the home
For one house and one or two heirs who get along, it is one of the cheapest estate tools there is. Big blended families, businesses or several properties usually call for a fuller plan.
Rules and forms differ by state. The county recorder's office or a local estate attorney can confirm what applies.
Source: Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act as enacted (e.g. RCW 64.80); Maryland Ch. 751 (2026), effective Oct 1, 2026; 85 Del. Laws ch. 212, effective Dec. 4, 2025; 26 U.S.C. 1014.
Educational information only, not financial, tax, legal, or investment advice. Rules vary by state, so confirm your own situation with a licensed professional.