[WSBARP] TODD and Title update

[Timothy Lehr]

All,

I wanted to let the listserv know about a recent opinion I received from a title company.

Surviving husband had a Will that left everything to three kids, equally. He subsequently recorded a TODD as estate planning tool because he wanted one son to have a house, which son lived in with him. Husband passed and about 6 months later son decides to sell house. He records death certificate to have title transferred to him via TODD. At closing, title company is now asking for a copy of a Will, if any, and lack of probate affidavit. I contact them and ask why, and they say that it's their new policy to ask for this. We get into it a little bit, and they say their legal department does not want to get into litigation with any other heirs of the estate. I ask "What if the Will says something different?" And they answer vaguely that it might cause a problem. They said the TODD statute is "too new" and "there is no case law on it" and they don't want to get wrapped up in litigation.

Moral of the story, if the Will contradicts the TODD in any way, or even if it is silent as in this scenario, they may not insure title in TODD grantee. This seems crazy and would completely change the way many attorneys advise on TODDs as estate planning tools. Has anyone else heard of this?

Timothy C. Lehr
Attorney & Partner

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p:   360.855.0131
e:   timothy at stileslaw.com<mailto:timothy at stileslaw.com>
w:  www.stileslaw.com<http://www.stileslaw.com/>

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