---
type: Authority
title: RSMo §§461.003 to 461.081 (Nonprobate Transfers Law of Missouri)
description: Missouri's statute allowing assets to pass at death outside probate through beneficiary, payable-on-death, and transfer-on-death designations, including the beneficiary deed.
resource: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=461.003
tags: [non-probate-transfers, tod, pod, beneficiary-deed, missouri]
timestamp: 2026-06-22
jurisdiction: Missouri
author: Patrick Nolan
authority_type: statute
citation: RSMo §§461.003 to 461.081
---

# Summary

RSMo §§461.003 to 461.081 are the Nonprobate Transfers Law of Missouri. They let Missourians pass assets at death outside probate through beneficiary, payable-on-death (POD), and transfer-on-death (TOD) designations, including the beneficiary deed for real estate (§461.025). A valid designation controls who receives the asset regardless of what the will says.

# Operative text

Paraphrased from key sections, verified against the official source:

- §461.003 (short title): sections 461.003 to 461.081 may be cited as the Nonprobate Transfers Law of Missouri.
- §461.005 (definitions): defines beneficiary and the transferring-entity framework for POD and TOD designations.
- §461.025: the beneficiary (transfer-on-death) deed for real estate has its own node.

Read the full sections at the official source linked above.

# Decision rule

Use POD and TOD designations and a beneficiary deed to move assets outside probate, and keep them aligned with the overall plan; because a valid designation overrides the will, review beneficiary forms after every major life change.

# Related

- [Missouri Beneficiary Deed](/okf/deeds/beneficiary-deed.md)
- [Transfer on Death Deed](/okf/deeds/transfer-on-death-deed.md)
- [Non-Probate Transfers](/okf/deeds/non-probate-transfers.md)
- [RSMo §461.025 (Beneficiary Deed)](/okf/authorities/missouri/rsmo-461-025-beneficiary-deed.md)
- Official source: https://revisor.mo.gov/main/OneSection.aspx?section=461.003