Wisconsin has its own statutory real-property transfer tool, commonly called a transfer-on-death deed or TOD designation, governed by Wis. Stat. § 705.15. According to the State Bar of Wisconsin's current explanation, a TOD beneficiary designation doesn't touch ownership at all until the death of the sole owner or the last surviving owner — it sits dormant during the owner's lifetime.
That dormancy is relevant to probate planning, but it doesn't mean a present-day gift has occurred just because someone recorded a designation. Wisconsin lawmakers recently revisited the statute: 2025 Wisconsin Act 60, signed December 9, 2025, updated the TOD statute's revocation rules, so families relying on older guidance should confirm they're working from the current version of the law.
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