[1]A lady bird deed, or enhanced life estate deed, is a type of life estate deed that lets the owner maintain control of a property until their death, when the property automatically transfers to a beneficiary [2] without going through probate [3].
A lady bird deed is one of several estate planning methods that ensure your property passes down without going through probate, a public legal process that distributes assets after your death and that can be costly and time-consuming. It can often be used to keep property in the family without sacrificing Medicaid eligibility [4] or subjecting the asset to state efforts to recover Medicaid costs after you die.
If you would like more information about lady bird deeds, and you live in one of the five states where it is available (Florida, Texas, Michigan, Vermont and West Virginia), please contact your ShindelRock tax professional [5].