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Alaska2026Passed Legislature

SB104

Alaska Law: Transfer of Boat and Vehicle Titles After Death

Last scannedSep 20, 2026, 12:32 AM

In one sentence

This law allows boat and vehicle owners in Alaska to name up to two people who will automatically receive the title when they die, without needing probate court.

What it does

  • Creates a 'transfer on death' option for boats and vehicles that transfers ownership directly to a named beneficiary after the owner dies.
  • Requires owners to submit an application with at least one but no more than two beneficiaries and pay a fee to add this designation to their title.
  • Allows owners to change or cancel the transfer at any time while they are alive without needing permission from the beneficiary.
  • States that creditors can claim against these vehicles if the owner's other assets do not cover debts, but only within 12 months of death and after a written demand is made.
  • Requires the Department of Administration to issue a new title to the beneficiary after receiving proof of death and an application fee.

Who it affects

  • Owners of boats or vehicles in Alaska who want to name someone to receive their property after they die.
  • The designated beneficiaries named on these transfer-on-death titles.
  • Creditors if the owner's estate cannot pay debts without using the vehicle.

Limits and unknowns

  • The law only applies to boats and vehicles for which the Department of Administration issues titles.
  • Creditors can claim against these assets if other estate funds are insufficient, but they must act within one year of death and provide a written demand.
  • The specific forms and fee amounts required by the department have not been set in this text.

Plain language

Terms to know

Transfer on Death Title
A special title that automatically gives ownership of a boat or vehicle to a named person when the current owner dies.
Designated Beneficiary
The specific person chosen by the owner to receive the boat or vehicle after death.
Nontestamentary Transfer
A transfer of property that happens outside of a will and does not go through probate court.

Official record

Sources

Validated
Official bill pageIntroduced textCurrent bill text

Official summary

VEHICLES/BOATS: TRANSFER ON DEATH TITLE An Act relating to the transfer of a title on the death of the owner; relating to the transferability of common interest community ownership interests; and providing for an effective date.

Official activity

Bill history

  1. (H) FN2: (ADM)
  2. (H) FN(S) ATTACHED TO APPROP. BILL HB 263
  3. (H) LEG FINANCE APPROPRIATION MESSAGE 9/8/26
  4. (S) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) OF LAW SEE CHAPTER3021
  5. (S) LAW W/O GOV SIGNATURE 6/18 CH 12 SLA 263021
  6. (S) 10:14 A.M. 6/1/26 TRANSMITTED TO GOVERNOR2959
  7. (S) MANIFEST ERROR(S)2959
  8. (H) CROSS SPONSOR(S): EISCHEID, JOSEPHSON2686
  9. (H) VERSION: CSSB 104(FIN)2666
  10. (H) RETURN TO (S), TRANSMIT TO GOV NEXT2666
  11. (H) EFFECTIVE DATE(S) SAME AS PASSAGE2666
  12. (H) PASSED Y402665
  13. (H) READ THE THIRD TIME CSSB 104(FIN)2665
  14. (H) ADVANCED TO THIRD READING UC2665
  15. (H) AM NO 2 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN2664
  16. (H) AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED2664
  17. (H) READ THE SECOND TIME2664
  18. (H) RULES TO CALENDAR 5/16/20262664
  19. (H) FN2: (ADM)2639
  20. (H) DP: JIMMIE, GALVIN, HANNAN, BYNUM, SCHRAGE, JOSEPHSON, FOSTER2639

Changes

Amendments

2 stored

AM 1

AM NO 1 NOT OFFERED 2664

AM 2

AM NO 2 OFFERED AND WITHDRAWN 2664