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Arizona Motor Vehicle Beneficiary Deeds

March 9, 2012

In July 2011, Arizona’s Legislature enacted, and Governor Brewer signed, the current version of A.R.S. § 28-2055(B). This statute provides that a person (called a grantor) can designate a beneficiary to whom ownership of a motor vehicle will be transferred upon the death of the grantor via a beneficiary deed.

Unlike a beneficiary deed for real property, which must be recorded by a county recorder’s office, a beneficiary deed for a motor vehicle does not need to be recorded. As such, it is the responsibility of the grantor to ensure that the beneficiary will have access to the beneficiary deed when the time comes to present the deed to the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD).

As with other types of beneficiary deeds and payable on death accounts, a beneficiary deed can be revoked or the beneficiary designation can be changed until the grantor’s death.

You can download a fillable PDF of the MVD's beneficiary deed form at no cost.

This brief overview of some important considerations associated with motor vehicle beneficiary deeds is by no means comprehensive. Always seek the advice of a competent professional when making important financial and legal decisions.

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