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Transfer on Death Deed Laws in Minnesota

Minnesota allows transfer on death deeds under its own statute, Minn. Stat. 507.071, and the deed is valid only if recorded in the county before the owner dies.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Minnesota at a glance

TOD deed allowed
Yes
Uniform act adopted
No, own statute
Minnesota's rule is in Minn. Stat. 507.071, first enacted in 2008, not a uniform act.
Recording rule
Before the owner's death
Must be recorded in a county where at least part of the property is located.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Minnesota

Does Minnesota allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?

Yes. TOD deed allowed in Minnesota: yes.

Has Minnesota adopted the Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act?

No, own statute. Uniform act adopted in Minnesota: no, own statute. Minnesota's rule is in Minn. Stat. 507.071, first enacted in 2008, not a uniform act.

When must a transfer on death deed be recorded in Minnesota?

Recording rule in Minnesota: Before the owner's death. Must be recorded in a county where at least part of the property is located.

Where do the Minnesota transfer on death deed laws come from?

The rules above come from Minn. Stat. 507.071. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Section 507.071 was most recently amended in 2024 and 2025, per its history note on the Revisor's site.

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.