Transfer on Death Deed in Washington State — What to Know and Why You Shouldn’t Do It Alone

Many Washington homeowners turn to a Transfer on Death Deed (TODD)—also called a Beneficiary Deed—as a way to pass their property directly to loved ones without going through probate.

It’s a smart estate planning tool, but preparing and recording it correctly can be trickier than it looks. Many homeowners spend weeks trying to figure it out themselves, only to realize they need help.

That’s why our firm has built a streamlined, attorney-supervised process that gets your title transfer done quickly, correctly, and affordably.

At the Law Office of Theresa Nguyen, PLLC, we’ve been helping Washington homeowners handle property transfers for more than 10 years, working directly with County Recorder’s Offices, the Department of Revenue, and e-Recording systems across most counties for same-day or next-day recording once all documents are executed and expenses are paid.

⚖️ What Is a Transfer on Death Deed (TOD Deed)?

A Transfer on Death Deed allows you to name a beneficiary who will automatically inherit your property when you pass away—without needing probate court.

You remain in full control of your property while you’re alive, and you can revoke or change the deed at any time.

✅ This is one of the most efficient ways to handle real estate inheritance while keeping ownership simple and private.

That said, for the deed to be valid and enforceable, it must be properly drafted, signed, notarized, and recorded in the right county before the property owner’s death. That’s where many DIY attempts go wrong.

😩 Why Most People Delay (and Why That’s Risky)

If you’ve been meaning to “take care of it soon,” you’re in good company. Many people delay because the process seems intimidating. They read articles online, download generic forms, and then get overwhelmed by the details.

But unfortunately, waiting too long—or trying to do it yourself—can backfire.
We regularly hear from clients who spent months trying to get their deed recorded, only to have it rejected for small technical reasons.

Others discover after a death that the deed wasn’t valid because it was missing key legal wording or wasn’t recorded in time. By then, it’s too late—the property must go through probate, which defeats the purpose of having a Transfer on Death Deed in the first place.

🧭 A Faster, Safer, and Simpler Option

Our office helps clients complete and record Transfer on Death Deeds without the stress or guesswork.
We know exactly what each county requires, and we handle everything for you—from document preparation to recording—so you can move forward confidently.

With over a decade of experience, we’ve developed a seamless process that allows most title transfers to be completed within a week, or even within one to two business days in many cases.

All you need is about a 30-minute consultation with our attorney to review your situation. From there, our experienced team handles everything:

• Preparing a legally compliant Transfer on Death Deed specific to your property and family situation

• Organizing and submitting supporting documents (if any) required for the county

• Managing all applicable fees, including:

  • State Technology Fee

  • e-Recording submission fee (typically small)

  • Any excise taxes due, if applicable

• Coordinating same-day or next-day recording with your County Recorder’s Office

Once everything is signed and paid, we take it from there.

💰 Why Doing It Yourself Can Be a Costly Mistake

Trying to file a TOD deed yourself might seem like a simple way to save money—but when it comes to property worth $400,000 or more, it’s a risky gamble.

We’ve seen countless situations where homeowners prepared and recorded their own deed, only to find out years later it wasn’t legally valid. Sometimes, the person who needed to sign has passed away or can’t be reached, and fixing the issue becomes expensive or even impossible.

Even if the county accepts your recording, that doesn’t mean it’s legally sound. Only a properly drafted and executed deed ensures the transfer will hold up later.

👩‍⚖️ Trusted by Families and Other Attorneys

Many family law attorneys refer clients to our office after divorce settlements because they don’t handle title transfers themselves—or their insurance doesn’t cover that type of work.

We step in to make the process quick, easy, and liability-free for their clients.
We also help families with:

• Removing a co-signer once a mortgage is paid off

• Transferring property between parents and children

• Updating title after a family death

Everyone’s situation is different, which is why we tailor every file to your specific needs—while keeping the process simple and affordable.

🚀 Convenience and Confidence — Without the Stress

Let’s face it—most people don’t want to deal with the paperwork, filing, or back-and-forth calls with the county. And that’s completely understandable.

We’ve seen too many clients delay because they think it’ll only take an hour online… then it turns into weeks of confusion and frustration.

That’s why we’ve designed a process that lets you handle everything in one short meeting with our office, then have your title updated and recorded—usually within a few days.

✅ No courthouse visits
✅ No confusing forms
✅ No delays or rejections
✅ No second-guessing

Just the peace of mind that comes from letting professionals handle it for you.

📞 Schedule a Quick Consultation

If you’ve been meaning to record your Transfer on Death Deed or want to ensure your loved ones avoid probate, let our experienced legal team handle it for you.

📍 Law Office of Theresa Nguyen, PLLC
Serving King County, Snohomish County, Pierce County, and all of Washington State
📅 Same-day or next-day recording available once documents are signed and fees are paid.
📞 Contact us today to schedule a short consultation and take care of your property transfer quickly and correctly.