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Transfer on Death Deed Laws in Vermont

Vermont does not have a transfer on death deed statute for real estate; instead it offers enhanced life estate deeds under 27 V.S.A. chapter 6.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Vermont at a glance

TOD deed allowed
No (enhanced life estate deed instead)
Vermont's Enhanced Life Estate Deeds chapter (27 V.S.A. 651 to 660) offers a similar way to pass real estate at death.
Uniform act adopted
No
Recording rule
Not applicable (no TOD deed law)

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Vermont

Does Vermont allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?

No (enhanced life estate deed instead). TOD deed allowed in Vermont: no (enhanced life estate deed instead). Vermont's Enhanced Life Estate Deeds chapter (27 V.S.A. 651 to 660) offers a similar way to pass real estate at death.

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

No. Uniform act adopted in Vermont: no.

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

Recording rule in Vermont: Not applicable (no TOD deed law).

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

The rules above come from 27 V.S.A. 651 to 660. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Under 27 V.S.A. 654, a validly executed and recorded enhanced life estate deed does not transfer any present interest to the grantee during the grantor's life.

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.