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Transfer on Death Deed Laws in Montana

Montana allows transfer on death deeds under its Uniform Real Property Transfer on Death Act, and the deed must be recorded with the county clerk and recorder before the owner dies.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Montana at a glance

TOD deed allowed
Yes
Uniform act adopted
Yes
Mont. Code 72-6-401 and following, enacted 2019.
Recording rule
Before the owner's death
Must be recorded with the county clerk and recorder where the property is located.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Montana

Does Montana allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?

Yes. TOD deed allowed in Montana: yes.

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

Yes. Uniform act adopted in Montana: yes. Mont. Code 72-6-401 and following, enacted 2019.

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

Recording rule in Montana: Before the owner's death. Must be recorded with the county clerk and recorder where the property is located.

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

The rules above come from Mont. Code Ann. 72-6-401 and Mont. Code Ann. 72-6-408. 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.