A plain-language definition, not a conclusion about a document or case. Read the term in its full legal context.
Plain-English meaning
Transfer on Death
A designation or recorded instrument that directs specified property to a beneficiary at the owner's death.
Why the term matters
Availability and effect depend on the asset type, contract, state statute, form, and continued ownership.
Do not confuse it with
Transfer-on-death registration is not a substitute for every estate-planning document and may override a conflicting will for that asset.