Can you use a transfer-on-death deed in District of Columbia?
Yes. In District of Columbia, an owner may transfer real property at death by a transfer on death deed that has the formalities of a recordable deed, states that the transfer occurs at the owner’s death and is recorded with the Recorder of Deeds before the owner’s death, and it stays revocable. This is the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act. The deed takes effect without notice to, delivery to or acceptance by the beneficiary during the owner’s life, and without consideration. It can be revoked only by a later acknowledged instrument recorded before the owner’s death, not by an act done to the recorded deed, and a deed made by joint owners is revoked only if all of the living joint owners revoke it. This is D.C. Code §§ 19-604.01, 19-604.05, 19-604.06, 19-604.09, 19-604.10, 19-604.11.
| What | District of Columbia |
|---|---|
| Transfer-on-death deed | Allowed; record before death |
Source
D.C. Code §§ 19-604.01, 19-604.05, 19-604.06, 19-604.09, 19-604.10, 19-604.11
Read the statute in the Code of the District of Columbia (DC Council): code.dccouncil.gov.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
An owner on Seayora keeps each property’s owners of record, its entity and its documents in one place, so who holds title and how is on file beside the leases and the books.
Guides on this rule
- Joint Tenancy and Transfer-on-Death Deeds by State — How each state reads a deed to two or more people, survivorship rules, and where a transfer-on-death deed is allowed by statute.
Compare this rule in every state
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