Nonprobate Transfers on Death

C.R.S. tit. 15, art. 15
in effect

C.R.S. § 15-15-101 Nonprobate transfers on death

15-15-101. Nonprobate transfers on death. (1) A provision for a nonprobate transfer on death in an insurance policy, contract of employment, bond, mortgage, promissory note, certificated or uncertificated security, account agreement, custodial agreement, deposit agreement, compensation plan, pension plan, individual retirement plan, employee benefit plan, trust, conveyance, deed of gift, marital property agreement, or other written instrument of a similar nature is nontestamentary. This subsection (1) includes a written provision that: (a) Money or other benefits due to, controlled by, or owned by a decedent before death must be paid after the decedent's death to a person whom the decedent designates either in the instrument or in a separate writing, including a will, executed either before or at the same time as the instrument, or later; (b) Money due or to become due under the instrument ceases to be payable in the event of death of the promisee or the promisor before payment or demand; or (c) Any property controlled by or owned by the decedent before death which is the subject of the instrument passes to a person the decedent designates either in the instrument or in a separate writing, including a will, executed either before or at the same time as the instrument, or later. (1.5) A conveyance or deed of gift described in subsection (1) of this section that relates to an interest in real property may be created pursuant to part 4 of this article and, if so created, shall be subject to the rights of third parties described in part 4 of this article. (2) Under the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, it is permissible to designate as a beneficiary, payee, or owner a trustee named in an inter vivos or testamentary trust in existence at the date of such designation. It is not necessary to the validity of any such trust that there be in existence a trust corpus other than the right to receive the benefits or to exercise the rights resulting from such a designation. It is also permissible to designate as a beneficiary, payee, or owner a trustee named in, or ascertainable under, the will of the designator. The benefits or rights resulting from such a designation shall be payable or transferable to the trustee upon admission of the will to probate if a testamentary trustee is the designated payee or transferee, subject to the right of the payer to impose requirements and take actions as may a personal representative acting under section 15-12-913. A trustee shall not be disqualified to receive such benefits or rights merely because the trust under which he was to act or is acting fails to come into existence or has been distributed in part or whole, but such a trustee shall receive and distribute the proceeds in accord with the terms of such trust. (3) If a trustee is designated pursuant to subsection (2) of this section and no qualified trustee makes claim to the benefits or rights resulting from such a designation within one year after the death of the designator, or if evidence satisfactory to the person obligated to make the payment or transfer is furnished within such one-year period that there is or will be no trustee to receive the proceeds, payment or transfer shall be made to the personal representative of the designator, unless otherwise provided by such designation or other controlling agreement made during the lifetime of the designator. (4) The payment of the benefits due or a transfer of the rights given under a designation pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section and the receipt for such payment or transfer executed by the trustee or other authorized payee thereof shall constitute a full discharge and acquittance of the person obligated to make the payment or transfer. ement made during the lifetime of the designator. (4) The payment of the benefits due or a transfer of the rights given under a designation pursuant to subsection (2) or (3) of this section and the receipt for such payment or transfer executed by the trustee or other authorized payee thereof shall constitute a full discharge and acquittance of the person obligated to make the payment or transfer. (5) Payment of the benefits due or the transfer of the rights given in accordance with a designation under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section shall not cause such benefits or rights to be included in the property administered as part of the designator's estate under this code or to be subject to the claims of his or her creditors, except as provided in part 2 of article 11 of this title and in section 15-15-103. (6) Except as otherwise provided in part 2 of article 11 of this title and in section 15-15-103, the express provisions of the trust agreement, declaration of trust, or testamentary trust shall control and regulate the extent to which the benefits or rights payable or transferable under such a designation shall be subject to the debts of the designator if paid or transferred under the provisions of subsection (2) of this section. (7) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 15-15-102 Will not to affect joint tenancy in real property or personalty

15-15-102. Will not to affect joint tenancy in real property or personalty. No will or other testamentary disposition or testamentary provision of one of the owners in joint tenancy of real or personal property or of an interest in real or personal property shall destroy or affect the joint tenancy or prevent the entire title and interest owned by the joint tenants from becoming vested upon his death in the joint tenants who shall have survived him. Upon the death of an owner in joint tenancy of real or personal property or of an interest in real or personal property, leaving surviving him coowners under such joint tenancy, all of the interest and title which, immediately before such death was owned by all of the joint tenants under such joint tenancy, shall become vested in the survivors of such joint tenants in spite of and without regard to the provisions of a will of the joint tenant so dying or the admission to probate of such will and without regard to whether such will was executed before or after the creation of the joint tenancy.

C.R.S. § 15-15-103 Liability of nonprobate transferees for creditor claims and statutory allowances

15-15-103. Liability of nonprobate transferees for creditor claims and statutory allowances. (1) (a) Except as otherwise provided in paragraph (b) of this subsection (1), as used in this section, "nonprobate transfer" means a valid transfer effective at death by a transferor whose last domicile was in this state to the extent that the transferor immediately before death had power, acting alone, to prevent the transfer by revocation or withdrawal and instead to use the property for the benefit of the transferor or apply it to discharge claims against the transferor's probate estate. (b) This section shall not apply to: (I) A survivorship interest in joint tenancy real estate; and (II) Property transferred by the exercise or default in the exercise of a power of appointment, including a power of withdrawal, created by a person other than the transferor; and (III) Proceeds transferred pursuant to a beneficiary designation under a life insurance, accident insurance, or annuity policy contract; and (IV) Property or funds held in or payable from a pension or retirement plan, individual retirement account, deferred compensation plan, internal revenue code section 529 plan, or other similar arrangement. (2) Except as otherwise provided by paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of this section, a transferee of a nonprobate transfer is subject to liability to any probate estate of the decedent for allowed claims against the decedent's probate estate and statutory allowances to the decedent's spouse and children to the extent the estate is insufficient to satisfy those claims and allowances. The liability of a nonprobate transferee may not exceed the value of nonprobate transfers received or controlled by that transferee. (3) Nonprobate transferees are liable for the insufficiency described in subsection (2) of this section in the following order of priority: (a) A transferee designated in the decedent's will or any other governing instrument, as provided in the instrument; (b) The trustee of a trust serving as the principal nonprobate instrument in the decedent's estate plan as shown by its designation as devisee of the decedent's residuary estate or by other acts or circumstances, to the extent of the value of the nonprobate transfer received or controlled; (c) Other nonprobate transferees, in proportion to the values received. (4) Unless otherwise provided by the trust instrument, interests of beneficiaries in all trusts incurring liabilities under this section abate as necessary to satisfy the liability, as if all of the trust instruments were a single will and the interests were devisees under that will. (5) A provision made in one instrument may direct the apportionment of the liability among the nonprobate transferees taking under that or any other governing instrument. If a provision in one instrument conflicts with a provision in another instrument, the provision of the later instrument shall prevail. (6) Upon due notice to a nonprobate transferee, the liability imposed by this section is enforceable in proceedings in this state, whether or not the transferee is located in this state. (7) A proceeding under this section may not be commenced unless the personal representative of the decedent's estate has received a written demand for the proceeding from the decedent's surviving spouse or a child of the decedent, to the extent that statutory allowances are affected, or a creditor. If the personal representative declines or fails to commence a proceeding after demand, a person making demand may commence the proceeding in the name of the decedent's estate, at the expense of the person making the demand and not of the estate. A personal representative who declines in good faith to commence a requested proceeding incurs no personal liability for declining. ected, or a creditor. If the personal representative declines or fails to commence a proceeding after demand, a person making demand may commence the proceeding in the name of the decedent's estate, at the expense of the person making the demand and not of the estate. A personal representative who declines in good faith to commence a requested proceeding incurs no personal liability for declining. (8) A proceeding under this section shall be commenced within one year after the decedent's death, but a proceeding on behalf of a creditor whose claim was allowed after proceedings challenging disallowance of the claim may be commenced within sixty-three days after final allowance of the claim. (9) Unless a written notice asserting that a decedent's probate estate is nonexistent or insufficient to pay allowed claims and statutory allowances has been received from the decedent's personal representative, the following rules apply: (a) Payment or delivery of assets by a financial institution, registrar, or other obligor to a nonprobate transferee in accordance with the terms of the governing instrument controlling the transfer releases the obligor from all claims for amounts paid or assets delivered. (b) A trustee receiving or controlling a nonprobate transfer is released from liability under this section with respect to any assets distributed to the trust's beneficiaries. Each beneficiary, to the extent of the distribution received, becomes liable for the amount of the trustee's liability attributable to assets received by the beneficiary. (10) The receipt of funds derived from nonprobate transferees by a person as provided in this section in satisfaction of such person's claim for a debt or statutory allowances does not constitute the receipt of nonprobate property by such person for purposes of this section or part 2 of article 11 of this title. (11) In the event of any conflict in the provisions of this section with the provisions of parts 2 and 4 of article 11 of this title, the provisions of this section shall control.

C.R.S. § 15-15-201 Definitions

15-15-201. Definitions. In this part 2: (1) "Account" means a contract of deposit between a depositor and a financial institution, and includes a checking account, savings account, certificate of deposit, and share account. (2) "Agent" means a person authorized to make account transactions for a party. (3) "Beneficiary" means a person named as one to whom sums on deposit in an account are payable on request after death of all parties or for whom a party is named as trustee. (4) "Financial institution" means an organization authorized to do business under state or federal laws relating to financial institutions, and includes a bank, trust company, savings bank, building and loan association, savings and loan company or association, and credit union. (5) "Multiple-party account" means an account payable on request to one or more of two or more parties, whether or not a right of survivorship is mentioned. (6) "Party" means a person who, by the terms of an account, has a present right, subject to request, to payment from the account other than as a beneficiary or agent. (7) "Payment" of sums on deposit includes withdrawal, payment to a party or third person pursuant to check or other request, and a pledge of sums on deposit by a party, or a set-off, reduction, or other disposition of all or part of an account pursuant to a pledge. (8) "POD designation" means the designation of (i) a beneficiary in an account payable on request to one party during the party's lifetime and on the party's death to one or more beneficiaries, or to one or more parties during their lifetimes and on death of all of them to one or more beneficiaries, or (ii) a beneficiary in an account in the name of one or more parties as trustee for one or more beneficiaries if the relationship is established by the terms of the account and there is no subject of the trust other than the sums on deposit in the account, whether or not payment to the beneficiary is mentioned. (9) "Receive", as it relates to notice to a financial institution, means receipt in the office or branch office of the financial institution in which the account is established, but if the terms of the account require notice at a particular place, in the place required. (10) "Request" means a request for payment complying with all terms of the account, including special requirements concerning necessary signatures and regulations of the financial institution; but, for purposes of this part 2, if terms of the account condition payment on advance notice, a request for payment is treated as immediately effective and a notice of intent to withdraw is treated as a request for payment. (11) "Sums on deposit" means the balance payable on an account, including interest and dividends earned, whether or not included in the current balance, and any deposit life insurance proceeds added to the account by reason of death of a party. (12) "Terms of the account" includes the deposit agreement and other terms and conditions, including the form, of the contract of deposit.

C.R.S. § 15-15-202 Limitation on scope of part

15-15-202. Limitation on scope of part. This part 2 does not apply to (i) an account established for a partnership, joint venture, or other organization for a business purpose, (ii) an account controlled by one or more persons as an agent or trustee for a corporation, unincorporated association, or charitable or civic organization, or (iii) a fiduciary or trust account in which the relationship is established other than by the terms of the account.

C.R.S. § 15-15-203 Types of account; existing accounts

15-15-203. Types of account; existing accounts. (1) An account may be for a single party or multiple parties. A multiple-party account may be with or without a right of survivorship between the parties. Subject to section 15-15-212 (3), either a single-party account or a multiple-party account may have a POD designation, an agency designation, or both. (2) An account established before, on, or after July 1, 1990, whether in the form prescribed in section 15-15-204 or in any other form, is either a single-party account or a multiple-party account, with or without right of survivorship, and with or without a POD designation or an agency designation, within the meaning of this part 2, and is governed by this part 2.

C.R.S. § 15-15-204 Forms

15-15-204. Forms. (1) A contract of deposit that contains provisions in substantially the following form establishes the type of account provided, and the account is governed by the provisions of this part 2 applicable to an account of that type: UNIFORM SINGLE- OR MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT FORM PARTIES [Name One Or More Parties]: ____________________ ____________________ OWNERSHIP [Select One And Initial]: _____ SINGLE-PARTY ACCOUNT _____ MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT Parties own account in proportion to net contributions unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent. RIGHTS AT DEATH [Select One And Initial]: _____ SINGLE-PARTY ACCOUNT At death of party, ownership passes as part of party's estate. _____ SINGLE-PARTY ACCOUNT WITH POD (PAY ON DEATH) DESIGNATION [Name One Or More Beneficiaries]: ______________________________ At death of party, ownership passes to POD beneficiaries and is not part of party's estate. _____ MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP At death of party, ownership passes to surviving parties. _____ MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT WITH RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP AND POD (PAY ON DEATH) DESIGNATION [Name One Or More Beneficiaries]: ______________________________ At death of last surviving party, ownership passes to POD beneficiaries and is not part of last surviving party's estate. _____ MULTIPLE-PARTY ACCOUNT WITHOUT RIGHT OF SURVIVORSHIP At death of party, deceased party's ownership passes as part of deceased party's estate. AGENCY (POWER OF ATTORNEY) DESIGNATION [Optional] Agents may make account transactions for parties but have no ownership or rights at death unless named as POD beneficiaries. [To Add Agency Designation To Account, Name One Or More Agents]: ______________________________ [Select One And Initial]: _____ AGENCY DESIGNATION SURVIVES DISABILITY OR INCAPACITY OF PARTIES _____ AGENCY DESIGNATION TERMINATES ON DISABILITY OR INCAPACITY OF PARTIES (2) A contract of deposit that does not contain provisions in substantially the form provided in subsection (1) is governed by the provisions of this part 2 applicable to the type of account that most nearly conforms to the depositor's intent.

C.R.S. § 15-15-205 Designation of agent

15-15-205. Designation of agent. (1) By a writing signed by all parties, the parties may designate as agent of all parties on an account a person other than a party. (2) Unless the terms of an agency designation provide that the authority of the agent terminates on disability or incapacity of a party, the agent's authority survives disability and incapacity. The agent may act for a disabled or incapacitated party until the authority of the agent is terminated. (3) Death of the sole party or last surviving party terminates the authority of an agent.

C.R.S. § 15-15-206 Applicability of part

15-15-206. Applicability of part. The provisions of sections 15-15-211 to 15-15-216 (subpart 2) concerning beneficial ownership as between parties or as between parties and beneficiaries apply only to controversies between those persons and their creditors and other successors, and do not apply to the right of those persons to payment as determined by the terms of the account. Sections 15-15-221 to 15-15-227 (subpart 3) governs the liability and set-off rights of financial institutions that make payments pursuant to it.

C.R.S. § 15-15-211 Ownership during lifetime

15-15-211. Ownership during lifetime. (1) In this section, "net contribution" of a party means the sum of all deposits to an account made by or for the party, less all payments from the account made to or for the party which have not been paid to or applied to the use of another party and a proportionate share of any charges deducted from the account, plus a proportionate share of any interest or dividends earned, whether or not included in the current balance. The term includes deposit life insurance proceeds added to the account by reason of death of the party whose net contribution is in question. (2) During the lifetime of all parties, an account belongs to the parties in proportion to the net contribution of each to the sums on deposit, unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intent. As between parties married to each other, in the absence of proof otherwise, the net contribution of each is presumed to be an equal amount. (3) A beneficiary in an account having a POD designation has no right to sums on deposit during the lifetime of any party. (4) An agent in an account with an agency designation has no beneficial right to sums on deposit.

C.R.S. § 15-15-212 Rights at death

15-15-212. Rights at death. (1) Except as otherwise provided in this section, on death of a party sums on deposit in a multiple-party account belong to the surviving party or parties. If two or more parties survive and one is the surviving spouse of the decedent, the amount to which the decedent, immediately before death, was beneficially entitled under section 15-15-211 belongs to the surviving spouse. If two or more parties survive and none is the surviving spouse of the decedent, the amount to which the decedent, immediately before death, was beneficially entitled under section 15-15-211 belongs to the surviving parties in equal shares, and augments the proportion to which each survivor, immediately before the decedent's death, was beneficially entitled under section 15-15-211, and the right of survivorship continues between the surviving parties. (2) In an account with a POD designation: (a) On death of one of two or more parties, the rights in sums on deposit are governed by subsection (1). (b) (I) On death of the sole party or the last survivor of two or more parties, sums on deposit belong to the surviving beneficiary or beneficiaries. If two or more beneficiaries survive, sums on deposit belong to them in such proportions as specified in the POD designation or, if the POD designation does not specify different proportions, in equal and undivided shares; and there is no right of survivorship in the event of death of a beneficiary thereafter. (II) If there are two or more beneficiaries, and if any beneficiary fails to survive the sole party or the last survivor of two or more parties, sums on deposit belong to the surviving beneficiaries in proportion to their respective interests as beneficiaries under subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (b). (III) If no beneficiary survives, sums on deposit belong to the estate of the last surviving party. (IV) Neither the provisions of section 15-11-706 nor the provisions of any other anti-lapse statute apply to the disposition of an account with a POD designation. (3) Sums on deposit in a single-party account without a POD designation, or in a multiple-party account that, by the terms of the account, is without right of survivorship, are not affected by death of a party, but the amount to which the decedent, immediately before death, was beneficially entitled under section 15-15-211 is transferred as part of the decedent's estate. A POD designation in a multiple-party account without right of survivorship is ineffective. For purposes of this section, designation of an account as a tenancy in common establishes that the account is without right of survivorship. (4) The ownership right of a surviving party or beneficiary, or of the decedent's estate, in sums on deposit is subject to requests for payment made by a party before the party's death, whether paid by the financial institution before or after death, or unpaid. The surviving party or beneficiary, or the decedent's estate, is liable to the payee of an unpaid request for payment. The liability is limited to a proportionate share of the amount transferred under this section, to the extent necessary to discharge the request for payment. (5) Sums remaining on deposit at the death of a party to a multiple-party account, which are not subject to a POD designation, belong to the surviving party or parties as against the estate of the decedent unless there is clear and convincing evidence of a different intention.

C.R.S. § 15-15-213 Alteration of rights

15-15-213. Alteration of rights. (1) Rights at death under section 15-15-212 are determined by the type of account at the death of a party. The type of account may be altered by written notice given by a party to the financial institution to change the type of account or to stop or vary payment under the terms of the account. The notice must be signed by a party and received by the financial institution during the party's lifetime. (2) A right of survivorship arising from the express terms of the account, section 15-15-212, or a POD designation, may not be altered by will.

C.R.S. § 15-15-214 Accounts and transfers nontestamentary

15-15-214. Accounts and transfers nontestamentary. Except as provided in part 2 of article 11 of this title (elective share of surviving spouse), a transfer resulting from the application of section 15-15-212 is effective by reason of the terms of the account involved and this part 2 and is not testamentary or subject to articles 10 to 13 of this title (estate administration).

C.R.S. § 15-15-215 Rights of creditors and others

15-15-215. Rights of creditors and others. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 15-15-216 Community property and tenancy by the entireties

15-15-216. Community property and tenancy by the entireties. (1) A deposit of community property in an account does not alter the community character of the property or community rights in the property, but a right of survivorship between parties married to each other arising from the express terms of the account or section 15-15-212 may not be altered by will. (2) This part 2 does not affect the law governing tenancy by the entireties.

C.R.S. § 15-15-221 Authority of financial institution

15-15-221. Authority of financial institution. A financial institution may enter into a contract of deposit for a multiple-party account to the same extent it may enter into a contract of deposit for a single-party account, and may provide for a POD designation and an agency designation in either a single-party account or a multiple-party account. A financial institution need not inquire as to the source of a deposit to an account or as to the proposed application of a payment from an account.

C.R.S. § 15-15-222 Payment on multiple-party account

15-15-222. Payment on multiple-party account. A financial institution, on request, may pay sums on deposit in a multiple-party account to: (1) One or more of the parties, whether or not another party is disabled, incapacitated, or deceased when payment is requested and whether or not the party making the request survives another party; or (2) The personal representative, if any, or, if there is none, the heirs or devisees of a deceased party if proof of death is presented to the financial institution showing that the deceased party was the survivor of all other persons named on the account either as a party or beneficiary, unless the account is without right of survivorship under section 15-15-212.

C.R.S. § 15-15-223 Payment on POD designation

15-15-223. Payment on POD designation. A financial institution, on request, may pay sums on deposit in an account with a POD designation to: (1) One or more of the parties, whether or not another party is disabled, incapacitated, or deceased when the payment is requested and whether or not a party survives another party; (2) The beneficiary or beneficiaries, if proof of death is presented to the financial institution showing that the beneficiary or beneficiaries survived all persons named as parties; or (3) The personal representative, if any, or, if there is none, the heirs or devisees of a deceased party, if proof of death is presented to the financial institution showing that the deceased party was the survivor of all other persons named on the account either as a party or beneficiary.

C.R.S. § 15-15-224 Payment to designated agent

15-15-224. Payment to designated agent. A financial institution, on request of an agent under an agency designation for an account, may pay to the agent sums on deposit in the account, whether or not a party is disabled, incapacitated, or deceased when the request is made or received, and whether or not the authority of the agent terminates on the disability or incapacity of a party.

C.R.S. § 15-15-225 Payment to minor

15-15-225. Payment to minor. If a financial institution is required or permitted to make payment pursuant to this part 2 to a minor designated as a beneficiary, payment may be made pursuant to the "Colorado Uniform Transfers to Minors Act", article 50 of title 11, C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 15-15-226 Discharge

15-15-226. Discharge. (1) Payment made pursuant to this part 2 in accordance with the type of account discharges the financial institution from all claims for amounts so paid, whether or not the payment is consistent with the beneficial ownership of the account as between parties, beneficiaries, or their successors. Payment may be made whether or not a party, beneficiary, or agent is disabled, incapacitated, or deceased when payment is requested, received, or made. (2) Protection under this section does not extend to payments made after a financial institution has received written notice from a party, or from the personal representative, surviving spouse, or heir or devisee of a deceased party, to the effect that payments in accordance with the terms of the account, including one having an agency designation, should not be permitted, and the financial institution has had a reasonable opportunity to act on it when the payment is made. Unless the notice is withdrawn by the person giving it, the successor of any deceased party must concur in a request for payment if the financial institution is to be protected under this section. Unless a financial institution has been served with process in an action or proceeding, no other notice or other information shown to have been available to the financial institution affects its right to protection under this section. (3) A financial institution that receives written notice pursuant to this section or otherwise has reason to believe that a dispute exists as to the rights of the parties may refuse, without liability, to make payments in accordance with the terms of the account. (4) Protection of a financial institution under this section does not affect the rights of parties in disputes between themselves or their successors concerning the beneficial ownership of sums on deposit in accounts or payments made from accounts.

C.R.S. § 15-15-227 Set-off

15-15-227. Set-off. Without qualifying any other statutory right to set-off or lien and subject to any contractual provision, if a party is indebted to a financial institution, the financial institution has a right to set-off against the account. The amount of the account subject to set-off is the proportion to which the party is, or immediately before death was, beneficially entitled under section 15-15-211 or, in the absence of proof of that proportion, an equal share with all parties.

C.R.S. § 15-15-301 Definitions

15-15-301. Definitions. In this part 3: (1) "Beneficiary form" means a registration of a security which indicates the present owner of the security and the intention of the owner regarding the person who will become the owner of the security upon the death of the owner. (2) "Register", including its derivatives, means to issue a certificate showing the ownership of a certificated security or, in the case of an uncertificated security, to initiate or transfer an account, including but not limited to an account held on the books of the registering entity, showing ownership of securities. (3) "Registering entity" means a person who originates or transfers a security title by registration, and includes a broker, bank, or trust company maintaining security accounts for customers and a transfer agent or other person acting for or as an issuer of securities. (4) "Security" means a share, participation, or other interest in property, in a business, or in an obligation of an enterprise or other issuer, and includes a certificated security, an uncertificated security, and a security account. (5) "Security account" means (i) a reinvestment account associated with a security, a securities account with a broker, a cash balance in a brokerage account, cash, cash equivalents, interest, earnings, or dividends earned or declared on a security in an account, a reinvestment account, or a brokerage account, whether or not credited to the account before the owner's death; (ii) an investment management or custody account with a trust company or a trust division of a bank with trust powers, including the securities in the account, a cash balance in the account, and cash, cash equivalents, interest, earnings, or dividends earned or declared on a security in the account, whether or not credited to the account before the owner's death; or (iii) a cash balance or other property held for or due to the owner of a security as a replacement for or product of an account security, whether or not credited to the account before the owner's death.

C.R.S. § 15-15-302 Registration in beneficiary form; sole or joint tenancy ownership

15-15-302. Registration in beneficiary form; sole or joint tenancy ownership. Only individuals whose registration of a security shows sole ownership by one individual or multiple ownership by two or more with right of survivorship, rather than as tenants in common, may obtain registration in beneficiary form. Multiple owners of a security registered in beneficiary form hold as joint tenants with right of survivorship, as tenants by the entireties, or as owners of community property held in survivorship form, and not as tenants in common.

C.R.S. § 15-15-303 Registration in beneficiary form; applicable law

15-15-303. Registration in beneficiary form; applicable law. A security may be registered in beneficiary form if the form is authorized by this or a similar statute of the state of organization of the issuer or registering entity, the location of the registering entity's principal office, the office of its transfer agent or its office making the registration, or by this or a similar statute of the law of the state listed as the owner's address at the time of registration. A registration governed by the law of a jurisdiction in which this or similar legislation is not in force or was not in force when a registration in beneficiary form was made is nevertheless presumed to be valid and authorized as a matter of contract law.

C.R.S. § 15-15-304 Origination of registration in beneficiary form

15-15-304. Origination of registration in beneficiary form. A security, whether evidenced by certificate or account, is registered in beneficiary form when the registration includes a designation of a beneficiary to take the ownership at the death of the owner or the deaths of all multiple owners.

C.R.S. § 15-15-305 Form of registration in beneficiary form

15-15-305. Form of registration in beneficiary form. Registration in beneficiary form may be shown by the words "transfer on death" or the abbreviation "TOD", or by the words "pay on death" or the abbreviation "POD", after the name of the registered owner and before the name of a beneficiary.

C.R.S. § 15-15-306 Effect of registration in beneficiary form

15-15-306. Effect of registration in beneficiary form. The designation of a TOD beneficiary on a registration in beneficiary form has no effect on ownership until the owner's death. A registration of a security in beneficiary form may be canceled or changed at any time by the sole owner or all then surviving owners without the consent of the beneficiary.

C.R.S. § 15-15-307 Ownership on death of owner

15-15-307. Ownership on death of owner. On death of a sole owner or the last to die of all multiple owners, ownership of securities registered in beneficiary form passes to the beneficiary or beneficiaries who survive all owners. On proof of death of all owners and compliance with any applicable requirements of the registering entity, a security registered in beneficiary form may be reregistered in the name of the beneficiary or beneficiaries who survived the death of all owners. Until division of the security after the death of all owners, multiple beneficiaries surviving the death of all owners hold their interests as tenants in common. If no beneficiary survives the death of all owners, the security belongs to the estate of the deceased sole owner or the estate of the last to die of all multiple owners.

C.R.S. § 15-15-308 Protection of registering entity

15-15-308. Protection of registering entity. (1) A registering entity is not required to offer or to accept a request for security registration in beneficiary form. If a registration in beneficiary form is offered by a registering entity, the owner requesting registration in beneficiary form assents to the protections given to the registering entity by this part 3. (2) By accepting a request for registration of a security in beneficiary form, the registering entity agrees that the registration will be implemented on death of the deceased owner as provided in this part 3. (3) A registering entity is discharged from all claims to a security by the estate, creditors, heirs, or devisees of a deceased owner if it registers a transfer of the security in accordance with section 15-15-307 and does so in good faith reliance (i) on the registration, (ii) on this part 3, and (iii) on information provided to it by affidavit of the personal representative of the deceased owner, or by the surviving beneficiary or by the surviving beneficiary's representatives, or other information available to the registering entity. The protections of this part 3 do not extend to a reregistration or payment made after a registering entity has received written notice from any claimant to any interest in the security objecting to implementation of a registration in beneficiary form. No other notice or other information available to the registering entity affects its right to protection under this part 3. (4) The protection provided by this part 3 to the registering entity of a security does not affect the rights of beneficiaries in disputes between themselves and other claimants to ownership of the security transferred or its value or proceeds.

C.R.S. § 15-15-309 Nontestamentary transfer on death

15-15-309. Nontestamentary transfer on death. (1) A transfer on death resulting from a registration in beneficiary form is effective by reason of the contract regarding the registration between the owner and the registering entity and this part 3 and is not testamentary. (2) Repealed.

C.R.S. § 15-15-310 Terms, conditions, and forms for registration

15-15-310. Terms, conditions, and forms for registration. (1) A registering entity offering to accept registrations in beneficiary form may establish the terms and conditions under which it will receive requests (i) for registrations in beneficiary form, and (ii) for implementation of registrations in beneficiary form, including requests for cancellation of previously registered TOD beneficiary designations and requests for reregistration to effect a change of beneficiary. The terms and conditions so established may provide for proving death, avoiding or resolving any problems concerning fractional shares, designating primary and contingent beneficiaries, and substituting a named beneficiary's descendants to take in the place of the named beneficiary in the event of the beneficiary's death. Substitution may be indicated by appending to the name of the primary beneficiary the letters LDPS, standing for "lineal descendants per stirpes". This designation substitutes a deceased beneficiary's descendants who survive the owner for a beneficiary who fails to so survive, the descendants to be identified and to share in accordance with the law of the beneficiary's domicile at the owner's death governing inheritance by descendants of an intestate. Other forms of identifying beneficiaries who are to take on one or more contingencies, and rules for providing proofs and assurances needed to satisfy reasonable concerns by registering entities regarding conditions and identities relevant to accurate implementation of registrations in beneficiary form, may be contained in a registering entity's terms and conditions. (2) The following are illustrations of registrations in beneficiary form which a registering entity may authorize: (a) Sole owner-sole beneficiary: John S Brown TOD (or POD) John S Brown Jr. (b) Multiple owners-sole beneficiary: John S Brown Mary B Brown JT TEN TOD John S Brown Jr. (c) Multiple owners-primary and secondary (substituted) beneficiaries: John S Brown Mary B Brown, JT TEN TOD John S Brown Jr SUB BENE Peter Q Brown or John S Brown Mary B Brown JT TEN TOD John S Brown Jr LDPS.

C.R.S. § 15-15-311 Application of part

15-15-311. Application of part. This part 3 applies to registrations of securities in beneficiary form made before or after July 1, 1990, by decedents dying on or after July 1, 1990.

C.R.S. § 15-15-401 Definitions

15-15-401. Definitions. As used in this part 4, unless the context otherwise requires: (1) "Beneficiary deed" means a deed, subject to revocation by the owner, which conveys an interest in real property and which contains language that the conveyance is to be effective upon the death of the owner and which may be in substantially the form described in section 15-15-404. (2) "Deed" means any instrument of conveyance of real property. (3) "Grantee-beneficiary" means one or more persons or entities capable of holding title to real property designated in a beneficiary deed to receive an interest in real property upon the death of the owner. "Grantee-beneficiary" includes, but is not limited to, a successor grantee-beneficiary. (4) "Owner" means the grantor of a beneficiary deed. (5) "Successor grantee-beneficiary" means the person or entity designated in a beneficiary deed to receive an interest in the property if the primary grantee-beneficiary does not survive the owner. (6) (a) "Transfer", when used as a verb, means to convey. (b) "Transfer", when used as a noun, means a conveyance.

C.R.S. § 15-15-402 Real property - beneficiary deed

15-15-402. Real property - beneficiary deed. (1) In addition to any method allowed by law to effect a transfer at death, title to an interest in real property may be transferred on the death of the owner by recording, prior to the owner's death, a beneficiary deed signed by the owner of such interest, as grantor, designating a grantee-beneficiary of the interest. The transfer by a beneficiary deed shall be effective only upon the death of the owner. A beneficiary deed need not be supported by consideration. (2) The joinder, signature, consent, or agreement of, or notice to, a grantee-beneficiary of a beneficiary deed prior to the death of the grantor shall not be required. Subject to the right of the grantee-beneficiary to disclaim or refuse to accept the property, the conveyance shall be effective upon the death of the owner. (3) During the lifetime of the owner, the grantee-beneficiary shall have no right, title, or interest in or to the property, and the owner shall retain the full power and authority with respect to the property without the joinder, signature, consent, or agreement of, or notice to, the grantee-beneficiary for any purpose.

C.R.S. § 15-15-403 Medicaid eligibility exclusion

15-15-403. Medicaid eligibility exclusion. No person who is an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance for which it would be permissible for the department of health care policy and financing to assert a claim pursuant to section 25.5-4-301 or 25.5-4-302, C.R.S., shall be entitled to such medical assistance if the person has in effect a beneficiary deed. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 15-15-402 (1), the execution of a beneficiary deed by an applicant for or recipient of medical assistance as described in this section shall cause the property to be considered a countable resource in accordance with section 25.5-4-302 (6), C.R.S., and applicable rules.

C.R.S. § 15-15-404 Form of beneficiary deed - recording

15-15-404. Form of beneficiary deed - recording. (1) An owner may transfer an interest in real property effective on the death of the owner by executing a beneficiary deed that contains the words "conveys on death" or "transfers on death" or otherwise indicates the transfer is to be effective on the death of the owner and recording the beneficiary deed prior to the death of the owner in the office of the clerk and recorder in the county where the real property is located. A beneficiary deed may be in substantially the following form: BENEFICIARY DEED (§§ 15-15-401 et seq., Colorado Revised Statutes) CAUTION: THIS DEED MUST BE RECORDED PRIOR TO THE DEATH OF THE GRANTOR IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE. ______________________________________ , as grantor, (Name of grantor) designates____________________________________ as (Name of grantee-beneficiary) grantee-beneficiary whose address is __________________ (Note to Assessor and Treasurer: This address is for identification purposes only, all notices and tax statements should continue to be sent to grantor.) (Optional)[or if grantee-beneficiary fails to survive grantor, grantor designates _________________________, as (Name of successor grantee-beneficiary) successor grantee-beneficiary whose address is _____________________________________________] and grantor transfers, sells, and conveys on grantor's death to the grantee-beneficiary, the following described real property located in the County of ___________, State of Colorado: (insert legal description here) Known and numbered as _______________ THIS BENEFICIARY DEED IS REVOCABLE. IT DOES NOT TRANSFER ANY OWNERSHIP UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE GRANTOR. IT REVOKES ALL PRIOR BENEFICIARY DEEDS BY THIS GRANTOR FOR THIS REAL PROPERTY EVEN IF THIS BENEFICIARY DEED FAILS TO CONVEY ALL OF THE GRANTOR'S INTEREST IN THIS REAL PROPERTY. WARNING: EXECUTION OF THIS BENEFICIARY DEED MAY DISQUALIFY THE GRANTOR FROM BEING DETERMINED ELIGIBLE FOR, OR FROM RECEIVING, MEDICAID UNDER TITLE 25.5, COLORADO REVISED STATUTES. WARNING: EXECUTION OF THIS BENEFICIARY DEED MAY NOT AVOID PROBATE. Executed this______________. (Date) _________________________________ (Grantor) (2) Unless the owner designates otherwise in a beneficiary deed, a beneficiary deed shall not be deemed to contain any warranties of title and shall have the same force and effect as a conveyance made using a bargain and sale deed.

C.R.S. § 15-15-405 Revocation - change - revocation by will prohibited

15-15-405. Revocation - change - revocation by will prohibited. (1) An owner may revoke a beneficiary deed by executing an instrument that describes the real property affected, that revokes the deed, and that is recorded prior to the death of the owner in the office of the clerk and recorder in the county where the real property is located. The joinder, signature, consent, agreement of, or notice to, the grantee-beneficiary is not required for the revocation to be effective. A revocation may be in substantially the following form: REVOCATION OF BENEFICIARY DEED (§§ 15-15-401 et seq., Colorado Revised Statutes) CAUTION: THIS REVOCATION MUST BE RECORDED PRIOR TO THE DEATH OF THE GRANTOR IN ORDER TO BE EFFECTIVE. ____________________________, as grantor, hereby (Name of grantor) REVOKES all beneficiary deeds concerning the following described real property located in the County of __________, State of Colorado: (insert legal description here) Known and numbered as _______________ Executed this __________. (Date) _________________________________ (Grantor) (2) A subsequent beneficiary deed revokes all prior grantee-beneficiary designations by the owner for the described real property in their entirety even if the subsequent beneficiary deed fails to convey all of the owner's interest in the described real property. The joinder, signature, consent, or agreement of, or notice to, either the original or new grantee-beneficiary is not required for the change to be effective. (3) The most recently executed beneficiary deed or revocation of all beneficiary deeds or revocations that have been recorded prior to the owner's death shall control regardless of the order of recording. (4) A beneficiary deed that complies with the requirements of this part 4 may not be revoked, altered, or amended by the provisions of the will of the owner.

C.R.S. § 15-15-406 Acknowledgment

15-15-406. Acknowledgment. A beneficiary deed or revocation of a beneficiary deed shall be subject to the requirements of section 38-35-109 (2), C.R.S., and may be acknowledged in accordance with section 38-35-101, C.R.S.

C.R.S. § 15-15-407 Vesting of ownership in grantee-beneficiary

15-15-407. Vesting of ownership in grantee-beneficiary. (1) Title to the interest in real property transferred by a beneficiary deed shall vest in the designated grantee-beneficiary only on the death of the owner. (2) A grantee-beneficiary of a beneficiary deed takes title to the owner's interest in the real property conveyed by the beneficiary deed at the death of the owner subject to all conveyances, encumbrances, assignments, contracts, mortgages, liens, and other interests, affecting title to the property, whether created before or after the recording of the beneficiary deed, or to which the owner was subject during the owner's lifetime including, but not limited to, any executory contract of sale, option to purchase, lease, license, easement, mortgage, deed of trust, or other lien. The grantee-beneficiary also takes title subject to any interest in the property of which the grantee-beneficiary has either actual or constructive notice. (3) (a) A person having an interest described in subsection (2) of this section whose interest is not recorded in the records of the office of the clerk and recorder of the county in which the property is located at the time of the death of the owner, shall record evidence or a notice of the interest in the property not later than four months after the death of the owner. The notice shall name the person asserting the interest, describe the real property, and describe the nature of the interest asserted. (b) Failure to record evidence or notice of interest in the property described in subsection (2) of this section within four months after the death of the owner shall forever bar the person from asserting an interest in the property as against all persons who do not have notice of the interest. A person who, without notice, obtains an interest in the property acquired by the grantee-beneficiary shall take the interest free from all persons who have not recorded their notice of interest in the property or evidence of their interest prior to the expiration of the four-month period. (4) The interest of the grantee-beneficiary shall be subject to any claim of the department of health care policy and financing for recovery of medical assistance payments pursuant to section 25.5-4-301 or 25.5-4-302, C.R.S., which shall be enforced in accordance with section 15-15-103. (5) The provisions of any anti-lapse statute shall not apply to beneficiary deeds. If one of multiple grantee-beneficiaries fails to survive the owner, and no provision for such contingency is made in the beneficiary deed, the share of the deceased grantee-beneficiary shall be proportionately added to, and pass as a part of, the shares of the surviving grantee-beneficiaries.

C.R.S. § 15-15-408 Joint tenancy - definitions

15-15-408. Joint tenancy - definitions. (1) A joint tenant of an interest in real property may use the procedures described in this part 4 to transfer his or her interest effective upon the death of such joint tenant. However, title to the interest shall vest in the designated grantee-beneficiary only if the joint tenant-grantor is the last to die of all of the joint tenants of such interest. If a joint tenant-grantor is not the last joint tenant to die, the beneficiary deed shall not be effective, and the beneficiary deed shall not make the grantee-beneficiary an owner in joint tenancy with the surviving joint tenant or tenants. A beneficiary deed shall not sever a joint tenancy. (2) As used in this section, "joint tenant" means a person who owns an interest in real property as a joint tenant with right of survivorship.

C.R.S. § 15-15-409 Rights of creditors and others

15-15-409. Rights of creditors and others. (Repealed)

C.R.S. § 15-15-410 Purchaser from grantee-beneficiary protected

15-15-410. Purchaser from grantee-beneficiary protected. (1) Subject to the rights of claimants under section 15-15-407 (2), if the property acquired by a grantee-beneficiary or a security interest therein is acquired for value and without notice by a purchaser from, or lender to, a grantee-beneficiary, the purchaser or lender shall take title free of rights of an interested person in the deceased owner's estate and shall not incur personal liability to the estate or to any interested person. (2) For purposes of this section, any recorded instrument evidencing a transfer to a purchaser from, or lender to, a grantee-beneficiary on which a state documentary fee is noted pursuant to section 39-13-103, C.R.S., shall be prima facie evidence that the transfer was made for value. Any such sale or loan by the grantee-beneficiary shall not relieve the grantee-beneficiary of the obligation to the personal representative of the deceased owner's estate under section 15-15-103.

C.R.S. § 15-15-411 Limitations on actions and proceedings against grantee-beneficiaries

15-15-411. Limitations on actions and proceedings against grantee-beneficiaries. (1) Unless previously adjudicated or otherwise barred, the claim of a claimant to recover from a grantee-beneficiary who is liable to pay the claim, and the right of an heir or devisee or of a personal representative acting on behalf of an heir or devisee, to recover property from a grantee-beneficiary or the value thereof from a grantee-beneficiary is forever barred as follows: (a) A claim by a creditor of the owner is forever barred at one year after the owner's death. (b) Any other claimant or an heir or devisee is forever barred at the earlier of the following: (I) Three years after the owner's death; or (II) One year after the time of recording the proof of death of the owner in the office of the clerk and recorder in the county in which the legal property is located. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed to bar an action to recover property or value received as the result of fraud.

C.R.S. § 15-15-412 Nontestamentary disposition

15-15-412. Nontestamentary disposition. A beneficiary deed shall not be construed to be a testamentary disposition and shall not be invalidated due to nonconformity with the provisions of the code governing wills.

C.R.S. § 15-15-413 Proof of death

15-15-413. Proof of death. Proof of the death of the owner or a grantee-beneficiary shall be established in the same manner as for proving the death of a joint tenant.

C.R.S. § 15-15-414 Disclaimer

15-15-414. Disclaimer. A grantee-beneficiary may refuse to accept all or any part of the real property interest described in a beneficiary deed. A grantee-beneficiary may disclaim all or any part of the real property interest described in a beneficiary deed by any method provided by law. If a grantee-beneficiary refuses to accept or disclaims any real property interest, the grantee-beneficiary shall have no liability by reason of being designated as a grantee-beneficiary under this part 4.

C.R.S. § 15-15-415 Applicability

15-15-415. Applicability. The provisions of this part 4 shall apply to beneficiary deeds executed by owners who die on or after August 4, 2004.
Source: Open US Law by Vaquill AI (CC BY 4.0)URL: https://leg.colorado.gov/sites/default/files/images/olls/crs2024-title-15.docxFetched: 10/6/2026