How do I sign a beneficiary deed in Missouri?

Missouri requires the owner's signature and notary acknowledgment (RSMo 461.003 to 461.081). No witnesses are required.

Free Missouri Transfer on Death Deed

Free Missouri beneficiary deed form. Transfer property at death without probate. notary acknowledgment. Record before death. PDF.

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Owner Information

Enter your information as the property owner (transferor). If the property is jointly owned, you’ll add the second owner below.

How is the property owned?*

Choose “Jointly owned” if two people are on the title (e.g. spouses as joint tenants or tenants by the entirety). Both owners must sign.

I am the sole ownerJointly owned with one other person

First Name*

Middle Name

Last Name*

Street Address*

City*

State*

ZIP Code*

State Where Property Is Located*

City or County*

Email Address*

Phone Number*

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Frequently Asked Questions About Missouri Transfer on Death Deeds

A beneficiary deed in Missouri transfers real property directly to a named beneficiary upon the owner's death, without probate. The deed is revocable during your lifetime. Use the TOD deed checker to see if this is the right fit.

Missouri requires the owner's signature and notary acknowledgment. No witnesses are required. See all Missouri signing requirements.

Yes. A Missouri beneficiary deed must be recorded with the County Recorder of Deeds before death to be effective. An unrecorded deed has no legal effect. Must be filed of record with the recorder of deeds in the city or county where the property is situated prior to the death of the owner. Consideration and delivery to the beneficiary are not required. St. Louis City is an independent city (not part of any county) with its own Recorder of Deeds. RSMo 461.025.

Yes. Missouri allows multiple beneficiaries on a beneficiary deed. Unless specified otherwise, they take title as tenants in common.

Yes. A beneficiary deed in Missouri is revocable during the owner's lifetime (RSMo 461.033; RSMo 461.051). Missouri recognizes: Recording a subsequent beneficiary deed for the same property; Inter vivos conveyance of the property; Dissolution or annulment of marriage (revokes transfer to former spouse or relative of former spouse).

No. A beneficiary deed only transfers the specific real property named in it. Bank accounts, investments, and other property pass through whatever else you have in place — a will (probate) or a trust. A revocable living trust covers everything in one document, including the property this deed transfers. Set up a trust if you want a single instrument for the whole estate.

Missouri Transfer on Death Deed

A transfer on death deed in Missouri (Yes) lets property owners name a beneficiary who receives the property at death — bypassing probate entirely for that asset. The owner retains full control during their lifetime, including the right to revoke the deed at any time.

Without a TOD deed, real property in Missouri passes through probate — a process that takes at least 6 months for simple estates. A TOD deed removes that property from the probate estate entirely. Estates under $40,000 may qualify for simplified procedures, but a TOD deed avoids the process altogether. See the full cost breakdown with the probate calculator.

TOD deeds are a focused tool — one deed per property, covering only real estate. A revocable trust handles all assets and provides incapacity planning as well. The trust vs. will tool compares the two approaches side by side.