Illinois's version of a transfer-on-death deed is called the Transfer on Death Instrument, created under the Real Property Transfer on Death Instrument Act (755 ILCS 27). It lets an owner name beneficiaries who receive the real property automatically at death, without probate.
The tool got broader over time. Public Act 102-68 expanded the Act's coverage from a narrower definition of residential real estate to real property in general, applying to instruments made by owners who die on or after January 1, 2022.
Even with that expansion, formalities in execution and potential creditor claims against the estate still matter — a TODI isn't a guaranteed workaround for every complication that can arise after death.
← Back to the full Illinois guide