(a) One or more joint owners may execute a transfer on death instrument.
     (b) If all of the joint owners execute a transfer on death instrument, then an instrument of joint owners is revoked only if it is revoked by all of the then living joint owners. A transfer on death instrument is revocable by the last surviving joint owner notwithstanding any contract or agreement between the joint owners to the contrary.

Ask a will, trust or estate question, get an answer ASAP!
Thousands of highly rated, verified estate & trust lawyers.
Click here to chat with a lawyer about your rights.

Terms Used In Illinois Compiled Statutes 755 ILCS 27/70

  • Contract: A legal written agreement that becomes binding when signed.
  • Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
  • Tenancy by the entirety: A type of joint tenancy between husband and wife that is recognized in some States. Neither party can sever the joint tenancy relationship; when a spouse dies, the survivor acquires full title to the property.

     (c) If less than all of the joint owners execute a transfer on death instrument, the transfer on death instrument will be governed by the designation of the joint owner who is the last to die of all the joint owners. If the last to die joint owner did not execute a transfer on death instrument, the designation of any prior deceased joint owner is ineffective.
     (d) A transfer on death instrument shall not sever a joint tenancy or tenancy by the entirety.