Transfer on Death Deed Laws in the District of Columbia
The District of Columbia allows transfer on death deeds under its Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, and the deed must be recorded with the Recorder of Deeds before the owner's death.
Last checked . General information, not legal advice.
District of Columbia at a glance
- TOD deed allowed
- Yes
- Uniform act adopted
- Yes
- D.C. Code 19-604.01 and following, enacted by D.C. Law 19-230 (2013).
- Recording rule
- Before the owner's death
- Must be recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds.
The rules in the District of Columbia
Does District of Columbia allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?
Yes. TOD deed allowed in the District of Columbia: yes.
Has District of Columbia adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act?
Yes. Uniform act adopted in the District of Columbia: yes. D.C. Code 19-604.01 and following, enacted by D.C. Law 19-230 (2013).
When must a transfer on death deed be recorded in the District of Columbia?
Recording rule in the District of Columbia: Before the owner's death. Must be recorded in the Office of Recorder of Deeds.
Where do the the District of Columbia transfer on death deed laws come from?
The rules above come from D.C. Code 19-604.01 and D.C. Code 19-604.09. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.
What this means in practice
Where a transfer on death deed is allowed, it generally has to be signed with the same formalities as an ordinary deed and recorded in the land records of the county where the property sits. A deed that is signed but never recorded within the time the statute requires may have no effect, so check the recording rule before relying on one.
A transfer on death deed usually covers only the property it describes. It does not replace a will, and other assets still pass under a will, a trust or the intestacy rules. Keeping the deed consistent with your other estate planning documents helps avoid conflicting instructions.
Creditors, Medicaid estate recovery and property tax rules can still reach property that passes by a transfer on death deed in some situations. If the property is mortgaged, jointly owned or the beneficiary situation is complicated, consider having a local real estate or estate planning attorney review the deed.
General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.
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