Administering POD Accounts and TOD Securities

Use of a POD account or TOD security should result in the avoidance of its probate for that asset in the estate of the account or securities owner.  Assuming that the account or security was not also held in joint tenancy form, the account or security may be transferred to the designated beneficiary or beneficiaries upon delivery of a certified copy of Decedent’s Death Certificate to the institution.  For POD accounts: RCW 30.22.160; for TOD securities: RCW 21.35.035.

For the transfer of securities, a corporation or its transfer agent will also likely require an: Affidavit of Domicile re Transfer of Securities form.