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North Carolina does not authorize transfer on death deeds. 3 alternatives are available to transfer real property at death without probate.
North Carolina has not adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act or any TOD deed statute. NCGS Chapter 31 (Wills) contains no TOD deed article; NCGS Chapter 41 covers TOD only for securities (Article 4 - Uniform TOD Security Registration Act), not real property; NCGS Chapter 47 (Recording) contains no TOD deed article.
NC considered TOD deed legislation in three consecutive sessions: SB 312 (2019, gutted/replaced with unrelated bill), SB 368 (2021, died in Judiciary), SB 160 (2023, died in Judiciary; the SB 160 bill text would have created NCGS 31-65 et seq. but never became law). No TOD deed bill was introduced in the 2025-2026 session (verified via ncleg.gov bill lookup, May 2026); SL 2025-33 (HB 388) amended Chapter 31 (Wills) for electronic-will probate and year's-allowance procedures only and did not authorize a real-property TOD deed. Primary-source verification (ncleg.gov, May 2026): NCGS Chapter 31 (Wills) Articles 1-11 contain no TOD deed article (highest section is 31-73; G.S. 31-65 returns HTTP 404 - does not exist); NCGS Chapter 41 Article 4 (Uniform Transfer on Death (TOD) Security Registration Act) applies only to securities, not real property; NCGS Chapter 47 (Recording) contains no TOD deed article. The URPTODA has not been enacted in any chapter. NC does allow TOD designations on vehicle titles (DMV) and POD/TOD on financial accounts/securities (NCGS Chapter 41 Article 4), but not on real property deeds. Real-property non-probate transfer mechanisms in NC are limited to joint tenancy with right of survivorship (NCGS 41 Art. 6, "Joint Tenancy") and tenancy by the entirety for married couples (NCGS 41 Art. 5, "Tenancy by the Entirety").
These mechanisms transfer real property at death without probate in North Carolina:
Consult a licensed attorney for help choosing the right mechanism for your situation.
North Carolina has not adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act or any TOD deed statute. NCGS Chapter 31 (Wills) contains no TOD deed article; NCGS Chapter 41 covers TOD only for securities (Article 4 - Uniform TOD Security Registration Act), not real property; NCGS Chapter 47 (Recording) contains no TOD deed article.
North Carolina recognizes 3 alternatives for transferring real property outside of probate: Revocable living trust; Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (NCGS Chapter 41 Article 6); Tenancy by the entirety for married couples (NCGS Chapter 41 Article 5).
No. Real property transfers are governed by the state where the property is located. A TOD deed signed under another state's law has no effect on real property in North Carolina.