GA Senate Bill 420

Legislation

State: Georgia
Signed: April 30, 2024

Effective: July 01, 2024
Chapter: Act No. 496

Summary

Senate Bill 420 authorizes an individual to transfer an interest in real property to a grantee beneficiary by signing a transfer on death deed that must be notarized.

Affects

Adds Section 44-17-1 through 44-17-7 to the Official Code of Georgia Annotated.

Changes

Authorizes an individual to transfer ownership of an interest in real property to a grantee beneficiary by executing a transfer on death deed.
Provides that a transfer on death deed executed, acknowledged, and recorded in accordance may not be revoked by the provisions of a will.
Creates a statutory transfer on death deed form, including a space for the signature and seal of a Notary.

Analysis

Many, if not most, states have created the right for an owner of real property to transfer the real property to a grantee or beneficiary of their choosing by executing a transfer on death deed. By doing so, the property does not have to be bequeathed through a last will or put into a trust that becomes operative on the landowner’s death. This simplifies estate planning for many individuals. Of course, to put into effect a transfer on death deed, the grantor’s signature on the deed must be notarized, which entitles the deed to be recorded in the land records. Senate Bil 420 allows individuals to transfer their interest in real property by signing a transfer on death deed.

Read Senate Bill 420.