2023 Indiana Code › Title 32. Property › Article 17. Interests in Property › Chapter 14. Transfer on Death Property Act › 32-17-14-11. Transfer on Death Deeds

Sec. 11. (a) A transfer on death deed transfers the interest provided to the beneficiary if the transfer on death deed is:
(1) executed by the owner or owner's legal representative; and
(2) recorded with the recorder of deeds in the county in which the real property is situated before the death of the owner.
(b) A transfer on death deed is void if it is not recorded with the recorder of deeds in the county in which the real property is situated before the death of the owner.
(c) A transfer on death deed is not required to be supported by consideration or delivered to the grantee beneficiary.
(d) A transfer on death deed may be used to transfer an interest in real property to either a revocable or an irrevocable trust.
(e) If the owner records a transfer on death deed, the effect of the recording the transfer on death deed is determined as follows:
(1) If the owner's interest in the real property is as a tenant by the entirety, the conveyance is inoperable and void unless the other spouse joins in the conveyance.
(2) If the owner's interest in the real property is as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship, the conveyance severs the joint tenancy and the cotenancy becomes a tenancy in common.
(3) If the owner's interest in the real property is as a joint tenant with rights of survivorship and the property is subject to a beneficiary designation, a conveyance of any joint owner's interest has no effect on the original beneficiary designation for the nonsevering joint tenant.
(4) If the owner's interest is as a tenant in common, the owner's interest passes to the beneficiary as a transfer on death transfer.
(5) If the owner's interest is a life estate determined by the owner's life, the conveyance is inoperable and void.
(6) If the owner's interest is any other interest, the interest passes in accordance with this chapter and the terms and conditions of the conveyance establishing the interest. If a conflict exists between the conveyance establishing the interest and this chapter, the terms and conditions of the conveyance establishing the interest prevail.
(f) A beneficiary designation in a transfer on death deed may be worded in substance as "(insert owner's name) conveys and warrants (or quitclaims) to (insert owner's name), TOD to (insert beneficiary's name)". This example is not intended to be exhaustive.
(g) A transfer on death deed using the phrase "pay on death to" or the abbreviation "POD" may not be construed to require the liquidation of the real property being transferred.
(h) This section does not preclude other methods of conveying real property that are permitted by law and have the effect of postponing enjoyment of an interest in real property until after the death of the owner. This section applies only to transfer on death deeds and does not invalidate any deed that is otherwise effective by law to convey title to the interest and estates provided in the deed.
(i) The endorsement of the auditor under IC 36-2-11-14 is not necessary to record a transfer on death deed.
As added by P.L.143-2009, SEC.41. Amended by P.L.6-2010, SEC.30; P.L.36-2011, SEC.13.