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Answer a few questions about the property to see whether a transfer on death deed applies for avoiding probate on real estate.
No. Pennsylvania does not currently allow transfer on death deeds. Pennsylvania does not allow TOD deeds for real property. Pennsylvania's TOD statute (20 Pa.C.S. Ch. 64, 6401-6413) applies only to securities, not real estate.
Because Pennsylvania does not allow TOD deeds, alternatives for avoiding probate on real property include: Revocable living trust, Joint tenancy with right of survivorship, Tenancy by the entirety (married couples), Life estate deed. Compare your options with the trust vs. will comparison.
Without a TOD deed option, real property in Pennsylvania typically passes through probate unless held in a trust or with joint tenancy. Use the Pennsylvania probate calculator to estimate what that would cost.
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