Delaware recorders of deeds celebrate signing of House Bill 147
Published on September 23, 2025
Daily State News
Property can now be passed down via transfer-on-death regulations
DOVER — Kent County resident Natalie Buzzard’s goal of making transfer-on-death deeds legal in Delaware was realized with Gov. Matt Meyer’s signing of House Bill 147 on Sept. 5.
In 2020, Ms. Buzzard first approached the then-Kent County recorder of deeds, hoping to name beneficiaries on her and her husband’s deeds, like she had done for her bank accounts and financial documents.
Upon finding out that the state did not have a law regulating how to do so and no legislation pending, she started to write legislators.
Five years later, transfer-on-death deeds will allow real estate to be transferred to beneficiaries immediately upon the owner’s death, without probate. Property owners can revoke or change their beneficiaries at any time.
The beneficiaries have no legal interest in the property until the owner’s death. Further, such deeds must have two witnesses and be notarized.
Eugenia Thornton, Kent County’s current recorder of deeds, said at the bill signing, “Transfer-on-death deeds will support the governor’s initiative for affordable housing by helping to eliminate ‘heirs’ properties’ (passed down without a will) and their legal issues, known as ‘tangled titles.’”
“Delaware now joins the majority of other states in the country and supports my vision as recorder to make recording property records safer, faster and more convenient for everyone.”
The same forms will be used statewide. Kent County has recorded almost a dozen transfer-on-death deeds since the law was signed. Sussex and New Castle counties will enact them Dec. 5.
Information is available on the Record of Deeds website.
photo caption:
From left, Sussex County Recorder of Deeds Alex Reed Baker; House Bill 147 sponsor Sen. Elizabeth "Tizzy" Lockman; Natalie Buzzard; New Castle County Recorder of Deeds Michael E. Kozikowski Sr.; Kent County Recorder of Deeds Eugenia Thornton; AARP state director Lucretia Young; former state Rep. Paul Baumbach; HB 147's prime sponsor, Rep. Kerri Evelyn Harris; and Gov. Matt Meyer at the bill signing Sept. 5.
SUBMITTED PHOTO/THOMASINA JONES