Sec. 15. (a) Before the death of the owner, a beneficiary has no rights in the property because of the beneficiary designation. The signature or agreement of the beneficiary is not required for any transaction relating to property transferred under this chapter. If a lienholder takes action to enforce a lien, by foreclosure or otherwise through a court proceeding, it is not necessary to join the beneficiary as a party defendant in the action unless the beneficiary has another interest in the real property that has vested.
(b) On the death of one (1) of two (2) or more joint owners, property with respect to which a beneficiary designation has been made belongs to the surviving joint owner or owners. If at least two (2) joint owners survive, the right of survivorship continues as between the surviving owners.
(c) On the death of a tenant by the entireties, property with respect to which a beneficiary designation has been made belongs to the surviving tenant.
(d) On the death of the owner, property with respect to which a beneficiary designation has been made passes by operation of law to the beneficiary.
(e) If two (2) or more beneficiaries survive, there is no right of survivorship among the beneficiaries when the death of a beneficiary occurs after the death of the owner unless the beneficiary designation expressly provides for survivorship among the beneficiaries. Except as expressly provided otherwise, the surviving beneficiaries hold their separate interest in the property as tenants in common. The share of any beneficiary who dies after the owner dies belongs to the deceased beneficiary's estate.
(f) If no beneficiary survives the owner, the property belongs to the estate of the owner unless the beneficiary designation directs the transfer to a substitute beneficiary in the manner required by section 22 of this chapter.
As added by P.L.143-2009, SEC.41.
Structure Indiana Code
Article 17. Interests in Property
Chapter 14. Transfer on Death Property Act
32-17-14-0.2. Application of Prior Law
32-17-14-2.1. Application of Chapter to Preexisting Transfer on Death Transfers
32-17-14-5. General Rules Concerning Transfer on Death Transfers
32-17-14-6. Authority of a Transferring Entity
32-17-14-7. Agreement Between Owner and Transferring Entity
32-17-14-8. Transferring Entity's Acceptance of a Beneficiary Designation
32-17-14-9. Beneficiary Designation; Effects; Requirements
32-17-14-10. Assignment of Contract Rights
32-17-14-11. Transfer on Death Deeds
32-17-14-12. Transfer on Death Transfers of Tangible Personal Property
32-17-14-13. Direct Transfer to a Transferee to Hold as Owner in Beneficiary Form
32-17-14-14. Registration in Beneficiary Form
32-17-14-16. Changing or Revoking a Beneficiary Designation
32-17-14-17. Powers of an Attorney in Fact, a Guardian, a Conservator, or an Agent
32-17-14-20. Beneficiary Required to Survive the Owner
32-17-14-21. Trusts as Designated Beneficiaries
32-17-14-22. Substitution for Designated Beneficiaries Who Do Not Survive the Owner
32-17-14-23. Effect of Dissolution or Annulment
32-17-14-24. Fraud, Duress, Undue Influence, Mistake, or Lack of Capacity
32-17-14-25. Rights of Surviving Spouses and Children
32-17-14-26. General Rules Applying to a Beneficiary Designation
32-17-14-27. Powers and Duties of a Transferring Entity
32-17-14-28. Effect of Improper Distributions
32-17-14-29. Creditors of an Owner