Does Tennessee Allow Transfer on Death Deeds?
Tennessee does not authorize transfer on death deeds. 3 alternatives are available to transfer real property at death without probate.
Why TOD deeds aren't available in Tennessee
Tennessee has not adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act or any TOD deed statute, so no transfer-on-death deed chapter exists in the Tennessee Code. The most recent URPTODA bills (HB1793/SB2029, 114th General Assembly) would have added a new Title 31, chapter 8, but died without passage: the House sponsor withdrew on 2026-02-25, the Senate companion never left the Judiciary Committee, and the 114th General Assembly adjourned sine die on 2026-04-23. No TOD deed bill is pending; the 115th General Assembly convenes on 2027-01-12.
URPTODA bills have been introduced in Tennessee since 2015 and none has been enacted: HB0236/SB0306 and HB0898/SB0465 (109th GA, 2015-2016); HB1037/SB1365 and HB1596/SB2581 (110th GA, 2017-2018); HB1600/SB0660 (112th GA, 2021); SB0984 (114th GA, 2025; last action 2/12/2025, referred to Senate Judiciary Committee); and HB1793/SB2029 (114th GA, 2026, which would have created a new TCA Title 31, chapter 8; HB1793 sponsor(s) withdrawn 2/25/2026; SB2029 referred to Senate Judiciary Committee 2/5/2026 and never reported out before the 114th GA adjourned sine die 4/23/2026). No TOD deed bill was introduced in the 111th (2019-2020) or 113th (2023-2024) General Assembly. Tennessee does have a transfer-on-death mechanism, but it reaches registered securities only and not real estate: Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 35, chapter 12, "Uniform Transfer on Death Security Registration". Because survivorship is not a default incident of joint tenancy in Tennessee (TCA 66-1-107), a deed must expressly state the right of survivorship for it to apply. No Tennessee statute authorizes an enhanced life estate ("Lady Bird") deed; a full-text search of the Tennessee Code returns no such provision.
Alternatives for Tennessee
These mechanisms transfer real property at death without probate in Tennessee:
- •
- •Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (must be expressly stated in the deed)
- •Tenancy by the entirety (married couples)
Consult a licensed attorney for help choosing the right mechanism for your situation.
Frequently asked questions
Tennessee has not adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act or any TOD deed statute, so no transfer-on-death deed chapter exists in the Tennessee Code. The most recent URPTODA bills (HB1793/SB2029, 114th General Assembly) would have added a new Title 31, chapter 8, but died without passage: the House sponsor withdrew on 2026-02-25, the Senate companion never left the Judiciary Committee, and the 114th General Assembly adjourned sine die on 2026-04-23. No TOD deed bill is pending; the 115th General Assembly convenes on 2027-01-12.
Tennessee recognizes 3 alternatives for transferring real property outside of probate: Revocable living trust; Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (must be expressly stated in the deed); Tenancy by the entirety (married couples).
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 Tennessee.
Not currently. The most recent bill, HB 1793 / SB 2029 (114th General Assembly), failed: House sponsor withdrew the bill February 25, 2026; the Senate companion died in Judiciary at the sine die adjournment. No TOD deed bill is pending.