Do I Need a Transfer on Death Deed in New York?

A transfer on death deed in New York requires notary acknowledgment and 2 witnessesN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. The signed deed must be recorded at the county clerk or city register (nyc) before death to take effectN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 19, 2026View source. Must be recorded before the transferor's death in the county clerk's office of the county where the property is located. N.Y. Real Prop. Law 424(7)(e). In NYC, the Office of the City Register records deeds for the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, and Queens; Staten Island deeds are recorded with the Richmond County Clerk (nyc.gov, NYC Dept. of Finance recording guidance).

Yes. A transfer on death deed is revocable at any time during the owner's life, and New York revokes one by: Recording a subsequent TOD deed that revokes expressly or by inconsistency; Recording an instrument of revocation; Recording an inter vivos deed that expressly revokes the TOD deedN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424(9)Verified Oct 17, 2026View source. A will cannot revoke it.

New York allows transfer on death deeds for all types of real property, including homes, land, condominiums, and commercial propertiesN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 17, 2026View source.

Yes. New York allows multiple beneficiaries on a transfer on death deedN.Y. Real Prop. Law 424Verified Oct 17, 2026View source; they take title as tenants in common unless the deed says otherwise. A successor beneficiary can be named to take if a primary beneficiary dies first.