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Transfer on Death Deed Laws in Wisconsin

Wisconsin allows transfer on death beneficiary designations for real estate under its own statute, and the document and recording fees must be submitted to the register of deeds before the owner's death.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

Wisconsin at a glance

TOD deed allowed
Yes
Uniform act adopted
No, own statute
Wisconsin uses its own statute, Wis. Stat. 705.15, not the uniform act.
Recording rule
Submitted for recording before the owner's death
The document and recording fees must be submitted to the register of deeds before the death of the sole owner or last surviving owner.

Sources

Last checked

The rules in Wisconsin

Does Wisconsin allow transfer on death deeds for real estate?

Yes. TOD deed allowed in Wisconsin: yes.

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

No, own statute. Uniform act adopted in Wisconsin: no, own statute. Wisconsin uses its own statute, Wis. Stat. 705.15, not the uniform act.

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

Recording rule in Wisconsin: Submitted for recording before the owner's death. The document and recording fees must be submitted to the register of deeds before the death of the sole owner or last surviving owner.

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

The rules above come from Wis. Stat. 705.15. 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.