A Missouri transfer on death deed, also called a beneficiary deed, is a written deed that names who receives your real estate when you die. The beneficiary takes the property without probate, as long as the deed is recorded with the recorder of deeds before you die.[1] You can revoke or change the beneficiary designation while you are alive.[2]
Last Updated: October 2026. This guide is reviewed and updated regularly to reflect current Missouri law. If you notice an error or outdated information, please contact us.
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A Missouri beneficiary deed lets an owner name who gets real estate after the owner's death. The deed does not take effect while the owner is alive, and the property then passes to the beneficiary without going through probate.[1] The features below come from Missouri's statutes, and the section on laws explains each one.
Missouri lets an owner name a beneficiary for real estate through a deed that takes effect only at the owner's death. Section 461.025 of the Mo. Rev. Stat. sets the basic rule.[1] Section 461.033 covers changing or revoking the designation.[2] The sections below take each rule in turn.
The Missouri beneficiary deed statute is Section 461.025 of the Mo. Rev. Stat. Here is its key sentence:
A deed that conveys an interest in real property to a grantee designated by the owner, that expressly states that the deed is not to take effect until the death of the owner, transfers the interest provided to the designated grantee beneficiary, effective on death of the owner, if the deed is executed and filed of record with the recorder of deeds in the city or county or counties in which the real property is situated prior to the death of the owner.
In plain words, the owner signs a deed that names a beneficiary and says it takes effect only at the owner's death. The beneficiary then receives the property when the owner dies.[1] The same section adds two more points:
The FormsPal template has a By line for the signature of the owner, who is called the grantor on the form. It also has an acknowledgment block on page 3 for a notary public to complete.
The deed must be executed and filed of record with the recorder of deeds in the city or county where the property is situated. The filing must happen before the owner dies.[1] The statute speaks of the city, county or counties in which the property lies, so use the recorder for the place where your property sits.
A beneficiary designation may be revoked or changed in whole or in part during the lifetime of the owner. When joint owners hold the property, a revocation or change may only be made with the agreement of all owners then living.[2]
To fill out the Missouri transfer on death deed form, complete nine parts in order. They run from the preparer and return-to blocks through the parcel number, the grantor and beneficiary paragraph, the date and the signature, to the notary acknowledgment and Exhibit A. Each step shows where the entries go on the FormsPal transfer-on-death deed form. You can browse every deed type in our deed forms guide.
The screenshots under each step show the FormsPal Missouri transfer-on-death deed template filled with sample entries in blue, so you can see where each answer goes. The names, addresses, dates and amounts are examples only.
After you fill out the deed, sign it and file it with the recorder of deeds. Recording matters most, because the statute applies to a deed that is filed of record before the owner dies.[1] The steps below follow that order.
A Missouri beneficiary deed passes real estate to a named beneficiary at the owner's death without probate. The answers below come from Sections 461.025 and 461.033 of the Mo. Rev. Stat.[1]
Yes. A Missouri transfer on death deed passes the property to the beneficiary at the owner's death, without probate, if it was executed and filed of record with the recorder of deeds before the owner died.[1]
Yes. Under Section 461.025 of the Mo. Rev. Stat., a beneficiary deed transfers the property to the designated grantee beneficiary effective on the owner's death. Probate is not part of that transfer.[1]
With a beneficiary deed, the property passes to the beneficiary named in the deed, effective on the owner's death. The deed must have been executed and filed of record before the owner died.[1]
Yes. The owner can revoke or change the beneficiary designation, in whole or in part, during the owner's lifetime.[2]
All of the owners then living must agree. A revocation or change of a beneficiary designation that involves property of joint owners may only be made with their agreement.[2]
Yes. A beneficiary deed may be used to transfer an interest in real property to a trust, whether or not the trust is revocable.[1]
No. A beneficiary deed need not be delivered to the beneficiary, and it need not be supported by payment (consideration).[1]
General information, not legal or tax advice.
Unless noted otherwise, the sources below are from the Mo. Rev. Stat.
