GA HB899

Grantee beneficiaries designated in transfer-on-death deeds may now obtain certified copies of the record owner's death certificate by establishing direct and tangible interest in the vital record

Transfer-on-death deeds require the record owner to have legal capacity to contract; attorneys-in-fact are prohibited from executing these deeds on behalf of owners

Designated grantee beneficiaries must record an acceptance affidavit, real estate transfer tax declaration form, and death certificate within 9 months of the owner's death (for deaths on or after July 1, 2024) or the property reverts to the estate

Personal representatives of solvent estates may pay mortgage, property taxes, and emergency repairs on transfer-on-death property pending acceptance, with the estate receiving a priority special lien for unreimbursed expenses after one year

Transfer-on-death deeds take precedence over unsecured debts of the estate and year's support claims; if a beneficiary predeceases the owner or dies before acceptance, their share passes to remaining beneficiaries rather than reverting to the estate