This Amendment does all of the following: (1) Requires property transferred by a transfer on death deed to be inventoried along with other property of the deceased owner (“transferor”) if a probate estate is opened for the transferor with the Register of Wills.

Plain English Breakdown

The official source confirms all claims in the candidate explanation, including inventory requirements, executor access to personal property on transferred land, immediate transfer of title upon death, and that missing paperwork does not invalidate the deed.

Rules for Transfer on Death Deeds and Estate Inventories

This law requires property passed through a transfer on death deed to be listed in the estate inventory if probate is opened, gives executors access to personal items left behind on that land, and states that missing paperwork does not cancel the property transfer.

What This Bill Does

• Requires listing real property transferred by a transfer on death deed in the official inventory if a probate estate is opened for the deceased owner.
• Allows an executor or administrator to enter and protect personal items left by the deceased on land that was passed via a transfer on death deed.
• States that a valid transfer on death deed moves ownership of real property immediately upon the owner's death.
• Clarifies that failing to file required notice forms, death certificates, or inventory forms does not make an otherwise valid transfer on death deed invalid.

Who It Names or Affects

• Executors and administrators managing a deceased person's estate
• Beneficiaries receiving property through a transfer on death deed
• Registers of Wills handling probate estates

Terms To Know

Transfer on Death Deed

A legal document that transfers real estate to a named person immediately after the owner dies.

Probate Estate

The official court process for managing and distributing a deceased person's assets, opened with the Register of Wills.

Executor or Administrator

A person appointed by the court to manage the affairs and property of someone who has died.

Limits and Unknowns

• The law does not require an inventory form if a probate estate is not opened for the deceased owner.
• This text describes changes made in June 2025 but does not list a specific date when these rules officially take effect.

Official Summary Text

This Amendment does all of the following:
(1) Requires property transferred by a transfer on death deed to be inventoried along with other property of the deceased owner (“transferor”) if a probate estate is opened for the transferor with the Register of Wills.
(2) Makes clear that the executor or administrator of the transferor’s estate has authority to access and safeguard personal property of the transferor held by the transferor at the time of death on real property titled in the transferor’s own name transferred at the transferor’s death by a transfer on death deed.
(3) Makes clear that a valid transfer on death deed transfers the real property immediately on the transferor’s death and that the failure to file a notice form, death certificate, or inventory form under § 218 of Title 12, created by Hosue Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 147, does not invalidate an otherwise valid transfer on death deed.

Current Bill Text

Legislation Document

SPONSOR:

Rep. Harris

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

153rd GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HOUSE AMENDMENT NO. 1

TO

HOUSE SUBSTITUTE NO. 1

FOR

HOUSE BILL NO. 147

AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 147 on line 255 by inserting “

; executor or administrator inventorying of and access to property transferred by transfer on death deed; failure to file not invalidating

” after “

certificate

” and before the period therein.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 147 by inserting the following after line 262 and before line 263:

“

(d) If a probate estate is opened with a Register of Wills for the transferor, property transferred to a beneficiary by transfer on death deed must be inventoried in accordance with § 1905 of Title 12. If a probate estate is not opened for the transferor, an inventory form does not need to be filed with a Register of Wills.

(e) By and through letters testamentary or of administration, the person designated as an executor or administrator shall have authority to access and safeguard personal property of the transferor held by the transferor at the time of death on real property titled in the transferor’s own name transferred at the transferor’s death by transfer on death deed.

(f) A valid transfer on death deed transfers the real property immediately on the transferor’s death. Failure to file a notice form, death certificate, or inventory form under this section does not invalidate an otherwise valid transfer on death deed.

”.

FURTHER AMEND House Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 147 on lines 294 to 295 by deleting “

seized, which does not include real estate

” before “

transferred

” therein and inserting in lieu thereof “

seized or which

”.

SYNOPSIS

This Amendment does all of the following:

(1) Requires property transferred by a transfer on death deed to be inventoried along with other property of the deceased owner (“transferor”) if a probate estate is opened for the transferor with the Register of Wills.

(2) Makes clear that the executor or administrator of the transferor’s estate has authority to access and safeguard personal property of the transferor held by the transferor at the time of death on real property titled in the transferor’s own name transferred at the transferor’s death by a transfer on death deed.

(3) Makes clear that a valid transfer on death deed transfers the real property immediately on the transferor’s death and that the failure to file a notice form, death certificate, or inventory form under § 218 of Title 12, created by Hosue Substitute No. 1 for House Bill No. 147, does not invalidate an otherwise valid transfer on death deed.