50-State Surveys / Payable-on-Death Deposit-Account Beneficiary Rules

Payable-on-Death Deposit-Account Beneficiary Rules by State

How does an account owner create or change a payable-on-death beneficiary designation for a deposit account, and who takes the balance when the owner dies?

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Every entry, oldest check October 8, 2026
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What this survey covers

A payable-on-death designation tells a deposit institution who should receive funds after the account parties die. The table follows the statute's account coverage, designation, owner and beneficiary rights, survivorship, and payment process. An account contract may alter a statutory default where allowed.

Why the columns differ

Florida § 655.82 provides a sample account contract, gives the beneficiary no lifetime right, and makes a POD designation ineffective on a multiple-party account without survivorship. Surviving payees take equal undivided shares, subject to its narrow historical deposit-agreement exception to later survivorship.

Texas Estates Code §§ 113.004 and 113.152 includes POD and TOD account labels but requires a written agreement signed by the original payee for the statutory death transfer. A right of survivorship among multiple surviving payees needs express account terms.

Washington RCW 30A.22.100 puts a surviving joint depositor with survivorship ahead of the POD beneficiary. Surviving beneficiaries take equally unless the deposit contract specifies another distribution, and a depositor's will cannot change the contract's POD rights.

Scope boundaries

This survey concerns deposit-account beneficiary rights, including share accounts where covered by statute. Securities registration, retirement beneficiaries, life insurance, and real-property TOD deeds stay outside. A bank's authority to pay is distinct from a dispute over beneficial ownership.

State by state

Every column answered the same way for each jurisdiction. Open a state for the full page, with the statute text and the date it was checked.

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State Accounts covered How the POD designation is made Who may be named Owner and beneficiary rights before death Joint owner's priority over payee If a payee dies first Shares among surviving payees Changing the designation or using a will Proof, payment, and bank discharge
Alabama verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, time deposits, certificates of deposit, and share accounts at banks, savings institutions, and credit unions (§ 5-24-1(1), (5)).
Deposit contract may use substantially statutory POD sample wording or another form whose account type most nearly matches depositor intent (§§ 5-24-3, 5-24-4).
One or more persons, including legal entities under the chapter definition; a minor beneficiary may receive payment through the transfers-to-minors rule (§§ 5-24-1(3), (11), (13), 5-24-25).
Parties own according to net contributions unless clear and convincing evidence shows another intent; a POD beneficiary has no right during their lives (§ 5-24-11).
Surviving original parties take before POD beneficiaries; a POD designation on a multiple-party account without survivorship is ineffective (§ 5-24-12(a)-(c)).
A beneficiary must survive the last party; surviving named beneficiaries take, or the last party’s estate takes if none survives (§ 5-24-12(b)(2)).
Two or more surviving beneficiaries take equal undivided shares, without later survivorship between them (§ 5-24-12(b)(2)).
A party may change account type or vary payment by signed written notice received during life; a will cannot alter POD or survivorship rights (§ 5-24-13).
Institution may pay beneficiary on request with proof of surviving all parties; payment according to account type discharges it but does not decide claimants’ beneficial ownership (§§ 5-24-23, 5-24-26).
Arizona verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, CDs and share deposits at listed financial institutions, including credit unions (§ 14-6201(1),(4)).
Deposit-contract terms designate party or parties and beneficiary or beneficiaries; § 14-6204 offers a substantially similar sample form, not an exclusive form.
One or more named persons may be POD beneficiaries; the quoted account article does not separately define entity eligibility (§ 14-6201(3),(7)).
Beneficiary has no right to funds while any party lives; parties own in proportion to net contributions absent clear and convincing different intent (§ 14-6211(A)-(B)).
Surviving parties take before POD beneficiaries; POD designation on multiple-party account without survivorship is ineffective (§ 14-6212(A)-(C)).
Surviving beneficiary takes after last party dies; if none survives, balance belongs to last party's estate (§ 14-6212(B)(2)).
Two or more surviving beneficiaries take equal undivided shares, with no later right of survivorship (§ 14-6212(B)(2)).
Change account type or stop/vary payment by party-signed written notice received during life; POD rights cannot be altered by will (§ 14-6213).
Institution may pay parties or payees on request and death proof; payment matching account type discharges institution, subject to qualifying written dispute notice (§§ 14-6223, 14-6226).
California verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, CDs, share and similar deposit accounts; banks, savings associations and credit unions covered (§§ 40, 5122, 5128).
Substantially equivalent POD wording in signature card, passbook, contract or account instrument; statutory wording is optional (§ 5203(a)–(b)).
One or more persons designated on POD account to receive on request after death of original party/parties (§§ 5140, 5142).
POD payee has no deposit right during a party’s life absent clear-and-convincing different intent; parties’ contributions govern ownership (§§ 5136(b), 5301(a), (d)).
Surviving joint parties ordinarily take before payee; tenancy-in-common form can direct deceased party’s interest to that party’s payee (§§ 5203(a)(6), 5302(a)–(b), 5306).
Surviving payee(s) take after last party; if none survives, deceased party’s rights pass with estate; former-spouse transfer may fail (§§ 5040, 5302(b), (d)).
Equal undivided shares unless account/deposit agreement expressly differs; no later survivorship among payees unless expressly provided (§ 5302(b)(2)).
Change account terms by closing/reopening, signed all-party modification, contract method or statutory notice; will cannot change POD payee (§§ 5302(e), 5303(b)).
Institution may pay payee on proof payee survived original parties; authorized payment discharges institution except after restraining court order (§§ 5403, 5405).
Colorado verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, and share accounts at banks, savings institutions, and credit unions (§ 15-15-201).
Terms of the deposit account may designate POD beneficiaries; § 15-15-204 supplies a substantial-form model but also recognizes another form reflecting depositor intent (§§ 15-15-201, 15-15-203, 15-15-204).
One or more persons named for payment after all parties die; a minor beneficiary may be paid through the transfers-to-minors procedure (§§ 15-15-201, 15-15-225).
Parties own according to net contributions absent clear and convincing contrary intent; a POD beneficiary has no present right (§ 15-15-211).
Surviving account parties take before POD beneficiaries; a multiple-party account without survivorship cannot make an effective POD designation (§ 15-15-212).
A beneficiary must survive the last party; surviving named beneficiaries take, and if none survives the last party’s estate takes. Anti-lapse statutes do not apply (§ 15-15-212).
Survivors take the proportions in the POD designation or equal undivided shares; a deceased payee’s portion is reallocated proportionately to surviving payees. No later survivorship among payees (§ 15-15-212).
A party may alter account type or stop or vary payment by signed written notice received by the institution during life; a will cannot alter POD rights (§ 15-15-213).
Institution may pay a beneficiary on request with proof of survival of all parties; qualifying payment discharges it, except after timely written stop notice, while beneficial-ownership disputes remain separate (§§ 15-15-223, 15-15-226).
Connecticut verified 2026-10-08
Bank deposit accounts and Connecticut or federal credit-union share accounts held by one natural person in trust for another; business and separate fiduciary accounts are excluded from this rule (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1), (3)).
Give the institution the beneficiary's name and residential address; a depositor-signed writing may set different trust terms (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)).
The statutory in-trust account names another natural person as beneficiary (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)).
Default terms let the depositor withdraw or authorize charges during life; the beneficiary receives title only upon surviving the depositor (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)(A), (C)).
The in-trust rule addresses one natural-person depositor and one natural-person beneficiary; separate joint-account terms allow payment to surviving owners (Conn. Gen. Stat. §§ 36a-296(a)(1), 36a-290(a)).
If the beneficiary dies first, the statutory trust ends and title vests in the depositor; if the beneficiary survives, title vests in that beneficiary, unless signed terms differ (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)(B), (C)).
The statutory in-trust presumption addresses one depositor and another natural-person beneficiary; it supplies no split among several payees (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)).
A depositor-signed writing may vary the presumed terms; the statutory payment effect does not depend on satisfying will-execution formalities (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1), (2)).
The institution is protected when it pays under the signed writing or applicable statutory presumptions; surviving-beneficiary title remains subject to credit-union membership restrictions (Conn. Gen. Stat. § 36a-296(a)(1)(C), (2)).
Florida verified 2026-10-08
Deposit contract including checking, savings, certificate of deposit and share account; credit-union beneficiary has limited membership rights (§ 655.82(1)(a), (8)).
Beneficiary named in account terms; § 655.82(9) supplies a sample single- or multiple-party deposit contract with POD option (§ 655.82(1)(h), (n), (9)).
A person named to receive after all parties die; statute also includes an account held by a party as trustee for a beneficiary (§ 655.82(1)(b), (h)).
Beneficiary has no deposit right while any party lives; institution may pay a requesting party (§ 655.82(2), (6)(a)).
Surviving party takes first; a POD designation on a multiple-party account without survivorship is ineffective (§ 655.82(3)(a), (4)).
Surviving beneficiary takes after sole/last party; if none survives, balance belongs to last party’s estate (§ 655.82(3)(b)).
Surviving beneficiaries take equal undivided shares; later survivorship between them is absent except narrow 1994–2001 agreement exception (§ 655.82(3)(b)).
Designation sits in deposit-account terms and sample contract; § 655.82 gives no separate change or will-based method (§ 655.82(1)(n), (9)).
Institution may pay beneficiary on proof that beneficiary survived all parties; authorized payment discharges institution, even if ownership dispute remains (§ 655.82(6)–(7)).
Illinois verified 2026-10-08
Deposits, certificates, withdrawable capital and credit-union shares at listed state/federal banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 2(a)–(b)).
Holder signs institution agreement naming POD beneficiary; separate trust-account form names trustee and beneficiary (§§ 3, 4).
Living natural person, trust, corporation, charity or other lawfully existing entity (§ 2(c)).
Holder may add or withdraw funds; withdrawal revokes designation as to withdrawn amount; beneficiary's ownership arises after last holder dies (§ 4(b)–(c)).
POD beneficiary receives only after last holder dies; trust-account trustees are joint tenants with survivorship by default (§§ 3(a), 4(c)).
Living or existing payee takes; elected per stirpes descendants may replace predeceased natural person; otherwise no surviving payee sends funds to last holder's estate (§ 4(c)–(d)).
Surviving payees hold equal shares as tenants in common without later survivorship; holder may elect per stirpes allocation totaling 100% (§ 4(c)–(d)).
Written beneficiary change accepted by institution; withdrawals revoke amount withdrawn; Act states no separate will-change procedure, subject to different written account agreement (§ 4(a)–(b)).
Legal death evidence, beneficiary identity or entity records, and each beneficiary's written direction precede required distribution; compliant preclaim payment discharges institution (§§ 5, 10).
Indiana verified 2026-10-08
Deposit accounts, including bank, savings-and-loan, and credit-union accounts, under the transfer-on-death chapter (§§ 32-17-14-3, -19(b)).
Written, signed, dated designation; execute and deliver before death. Account record may say POD/TOD; institution may require its agreement (§§ 32-17-14-4, -7, -9(b), -14, -26(b)(1)).
One or more persons, including entities and trustees; a trust or entity generally must exist at death (§§ 32-17-14-3(9), -21, -26(b)(3)).
Beneficiary has no present right; owner retains control and may change or revoke before death (§§ 32-17-14-4(e), -15(a)).
Surviving joint owner takes ahead of payees; designation takes effect after the last survivor. Joint owners must agree to change it (§§ 32-17-14-4(c), -15(b), -16(d)).
Payee generally must outlive owner; deceased lineal-descendant payee's descendants substitute unless opted out. If nobody qualifies, owner's estate takes (§§ 32-17-14-20, -22, -15(f)).
Surviving payees share equally unless stated percentages differ; failed shares pass proportionately to survivors, subject to substitute descendants and contingent payees (§ 32-17-14-26(b)(5), (9)).
Follow designation and account terms; later designation usually revokes earlier one. Will/trust changes it only if designation expressly permits (§§ 32-17-14-16(e)-(g), -26(b)(1)).
Written request may require account evidence and death proof; institution may pay without request. Good-faith payment on reasonably believed information discharges it (§§ 32-17-14-26(b)(17), (19), -27(b), (k)).
Iowa verified 2026-10-08
State-bank deposits under § 524.805(8); state-credit-union share beneficiary accounts under § 533.309(4) (Iowa Code §§ 524.805, 533.309).
Bank beneficiary designation must appear in the bank's deposit-account records; credit-union beneficiary name and residence address must be disclosed and account held in depositor's name for that person's benefit (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 533.309(4)).
State bank: one or more designated persons; state credit union: a person other than the depositor (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 533.309(4)).
Bank repayment follows the deposit's accepted terms; the credit-union depositor may withdraw the beneficiary-account balance during life (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(1), 533.309(4)).
Bank death transfer follows death of the depositors; separate bank and credit-union joint-account statutes authorize payment to named joint holders (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 524.806, 533.309(2)).
The bank and credit-union provisions identify who receives on the depositors' death but do not prescribe a substitute-payee outcome when a named beneficiary died first (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 533.309(4)).
A bank may name one or more persons; § 524.805(8) does not set a numerical split. The credit-union beneficiary-account clause is phrased for a beneficiary (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 533.309(4)).
The bank's account records identify designated payees, with repayment otherwise under accepted deposit terms; these sections state no separate change procedure or will override (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(1), (8), 533.309(4)).
Bank payment to the recorded designees does not make it liable for decedent debts or state estate, inheritance or succession taxes; a credit-union beneficiary or representative may withdraw after the depositor dies (Iowa Code §§ 524.805(8), 533.309(4)).
Kentucky verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, share accounts, and similar deposits at banks, savings institutions, and credit unions; credit-union trust shares have a separate § 286.6-385 rule (§§ 391.300(1), (3), 286.6-385).
Account form and deposit agreement identify original payees and POD payees; a later account-form change requires signed written order received during life (§§ 391.300(10)-(12), 391.320).
One or more persons named as POD payees; credit-union trust-share beneficiaries may be minors (§§ 391.300(10)-(11), 286.6-385(2)).
POD account belongs to original payee during life; several original parties hold by net contribution absent clear and convincing contrary intent (§ 391.310).
Surviving joint original payees take first, unless clear and convincing written evidence at creation showed a different intent; POD payees take after last original payee (§ 391.315(1)-(2)).
Surviving named payees take after all original payees die; if one named payee dies first, the surviving payees take. If none survives, residual interest passes through the last owner’s estate (§ 391.315(2), (4)).
Several surviving payees take without later survivorship unless account or deposit agreement expressly provides it; § 391.315(2) does not specify an initial percentage split.
Any party able to demand present payment may change form or vary payment by signed written order received during life and not countermanded; a will cannot change POD rights (§§ 391.320, 391.315(5)).
Institution may pay original party on request; payee or a later-deceased payee’s heirs need proof the payee survived all originals. Statutory payment discharges institution subject to written stop notice (§§ 391.340, 391.350).
Louisiana verified 2026-10-08
Bank deposits (§ 6:314), savings-association accounts (§ 6:766.1), federal or state credit-union shares (§ 6:653.1); savings banks may use bank or association POD procedure (§ 6:1255(D)).
Bank and association accounts require signed depositor intent, specifically named beneficiaries in records, and “in trust for,” “as trustee for,” or “payable on death to” title wording. Credit-union section requires recorded named beneficiaries and evidenced member intent (§§ 6:314(A)-(B), 6:766.1(A)-(B), 6:653.1(A)).
One or more specifically named beneficiaries in account or share records; these sections do not list beneficiary classes (§§ 6:314(A), 6:766.1(A), 6:653.1(A)).
Each provision makes named beneficiaries eligible for funds upon the depositor’s or member’s death; the POD language does not give the beneficiary a stated predeath withdrawal right (§§ 6:314(A), 6:766.1(A), 6:653.1(A)).
Multiple depositors or members have equal interests unless institution records state otherwise; savings-bank written joint-survivorship agreement separately governs its joint account (§§ 6:314(D)(1), 6:766.1(D)(1), 6:653.1(D)(1), 6:1255(A)).
POD payment follows the named beneficiary records after depositor death; the three POD sections do not state a default allocation if a beneficiary died first (§§ 6:314(A), 6:766.1(A), 6:653.1(A)).
Beneficiaries are deemed to have equal interests unless bank, association, or credit-union records state otherwise (§§ 6:314(D)(2), 6:766.1(D)(2), 6:653.1(D)(2)).
Savings-bank law acknowledges revocation or beneficiary change without changing the account’s POD character. POD provisions give no general change form; they apply despite a different will beneficiary (§§ 6:1255(B), 6:314(F), 6:766.1(F), 6:653.1(F)).
Death certificate permits bank, association, or credit-union payment to named beneficiaries, with statutory institutional discharge; bank law preserves separate forced-heirship and other fund claims (§§ 6:314(A), (E)-(F), 6:766.1(A), (E), 6:653.1(A), (E)).
Maryland verified 2026-10-08
Deposit or share accounts at covered institutions: checking, savings, share drafts, and time deposits; business and charity accounts excluded from multiple-party definition (§ 1-204(b)(2), (6), (8)).
POD designation is part of a written account agreement, in one or more instruments, establishing account terms; institution may establish such accounts (§ 1-204(a), (b)(3), (b)(10), (c)(1)-(2)).
One or more persons designated as POD payees; they have no present withdrawal right solely as payees (§ 1-204(b)(10)-(11)).
Account parties may withdraw during life unless agreement says otherwise; POD payee has no present drawing right (§ 1-204(b)(10)-(11), (f)).
Agreement controls death rights; absent express terms, surviving account parties take first. Living payees take after last party dies unless agreement differs (§ 1-204(d)(1)-(3)).
Default balance belongs to POD payees then living after last party dies; if none then lives, it goes to last party’s personal representative, subject to agreement (§ 1-204(d)(3)).
Account agreement governs shares; statute names living POD payees but states no equal-share percentage (§ 1-204(d)(1), (3)).
Use the written account agreement and institution process for a change; § 1-204 makes the agreed POD transfer nontestamentary (§ 1-204(a), (b)(3), (d)(1)).
Institution follows agreement; payment to deceased party’s representative needs proof of last-party status or no survivorship. No-survivorship representative payment has express protection (§ 1-204(d)(1), (4)-(5)).
Massachusetts verified 2026-10-08
Written account/deposit agreements can make nonprobate death transfers; banks may take demand/time deposits and trust-form deposits; credit unions may take shares/deposits (ch. 190B, § 6-101, ch. 167D, § 3, ch. 171, § 30).
Written instrument effective as contract/gift/trust; bank trust deposits name trustee(s) and identified payee(s). Account terms determine POD designation (ch. 190B, § 6-101, ch. 167D, § 3(b)).
Bank trust deposit may benefit natural persons, trusts, or IRS-recognized charity/nonprofit; general written transfer names a person (ch. 167D, § 3(b), ch. 190B, § 6-101(b)(1)).
Written death-transfer provision concerns property controlled or owned before death; bank trust deposit may pay trustee(s) during life (ch. 190B, § 6-101(b), ch. 167D, § 3(b)).
Bank joint deposits may pay surviving owner(s); trust deposit with two trustees pays surviving trustee, then surviving named payees after both die (ch. 167D, § 3(a)-(b)).
Certain deceased POD payees who are grandparents or descendants of grandparents may leave a substitute gift to surviving descendants; bank trust deposit pays surviving identified payees (ch. 190B, § 2-706(a), ch. 167D, § 3(b)).
Bank trust-deposit survivors take equal portions; general POD shares follow written instrument, with statutory substitute-gift allocation for qualifying deceased payees (ch. 167D, § 3(b), ch. 190B, § 2-706(a)).
General written death-transfer provision may designate through a separate writing, including a will, only when original instrument provides for it or later writing has independent significance (ch. 190B, § 6-101(b)(1)).
Bank trust-deposit claimants provide requested ID; compliant payment discharges bank. POD payor protected before written substitute-gift claim notice, subject to § 2-706(b) (ch. 167D, § 3(b), ch. 190B, § 2-706(b)).
Michigan verified 2026-10-08
Bank or trust-company deposits held in trust for another; written deposit/account transfer instruments; separate credit-union share and deposit beneficiary accounts (§§ 487.702, 700.6101, 490.81).
Bank trust deposit is made in trust for another; credit-union documents identify owners and payees; general deposit-account death transfer rests on a written provision (§§ 487.702(1), 490.81(b),(d), 700.6101(1)).
Bank trust-deposit payee is a person; credit-union 'person' includes individuals and legal entities (§§ 487.702(1), 490.81(a),(e)).
Credit-union beneficiary has no ownership interest and all money rights stay with owner(s) during any owner's life; bank/general account terms control withdrawal (§§ 490.81(a), 490.82(1), 700.6101(1)).
Credit-union payees receive title after last owner dies; multiple owners' lifetime rights follow account contract and other applicable law. Separate bank survivorship deposits favor surviving named depositor (§§ 490.82(1)-(2), 487.703).
If no credit-union payee survives the last owner, account joins that owner's estate; bank trust-deposit section directs payment after last trustee dies but does not set a substitute-payee rule (§§ 490.82(3), 487.702(1)).
Surviving credit-union payees take equal separate shares without joint ownership; bank trust-deposit section does not prescribe shares (§§ 490.82(4), 487.702).
Credit-union act bars changing title passage by will; it does not prescribe a beneficiary-change form. A general written deposit transfer provision may designate in a separate writing, including a will, when its instrument so provides (§§ 490.82(5), 700.6101(1)(a),(c)).
Bank trust deposit is paid after all trustees die; minor-payment limits apply, and payee/guardian receipt discharges bank. Credit-union act states ownership passage but no separate death-proof or discharge procedure (§§ 487.702, 490.82).
Minnesota verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, share accounts, and similar deposits at banks, savings associations, and credit unions (§ 524.6-201, subds. 2-3).
POD wording signed by depositor is conclusive intent absent fraud or misrepresentation; substantial uniform form or another institution-accepted form may also govern (§§ 524.6-213, 524.6-216).
One or more persons named as POD payees; statute also includes deposit-agreement trustee-for-beneficiary accounts with no other trust property (§ 524.6-201, subds. 10-11).
Original depositing parties own the POD account during life; payees have no present beneficial ownership. Joint-party interests follow net contributions unless evidence shows another intent (§ 524.6-203).
Original joint parties take by survivorship before POD payees, subject to clear and convincing contrary intent or a specifically referring valid will (§ 524.6-204(a), (b), (d)).
Payees must survive the last original party; surviving named payees take if one dies first. If none survives, decedent’s estate takes under the residual death rule (§ 524.6-204(b)-(c)).
Surviving payees take the POD balance; after they acquire it, there is no further survivorship among them unless account or deposit terms expressly provide it (§ 524.6-204(b)).
A party may change account form or stop or vary payment by signed written order received during life. A valid will specifically referring to the account can change survivorship or POD rights (§§ 524.6-204(d), 524.6-205).
Institution may pay original parties on request; payees must show proof they survived all original parties. Qualifying payment discharges institution, but timely written notice or a will claim can require withholding pending court order (§§ 524.6-210, 524.6-211, 524.6-204(d)).
Missouri verified 2026-10-08
Bank or trust-company accounts, including certificates of deposit; savings association accounts separately; credit-union trust shares and POD payment disputes have distinct provisions (§§ 362.471, 369.186, 370.275, 370.288).
Bank or association may contract for an account titled “pay on death to” a named person; agreed terms matter (§§ 362.471(1), (4), 369.186(1), (3)).
Bank statute names one or more POD persons; savings association statute describes one named payee. Credit-union trust-share rule allows minor beneficiaries (§§ 362.471(2)-(3), 369.186(1)-(2), 370.275).
First named bank or association owner controls and may cancel, change, or dispose of account during life (§§ 362.471(1), 369.186(1)).
Bank POD first-named owners hold as joint tenants with survivorship; payees take only after all first-named owners die (§ 362.471(2)-(3)).
Bank pays equal shares only to POD payees living when all owners have died; chapter 461 defaults require express deposit-agreement incorporation (§§ 362.471(3), 461.073(3)).
Bank pays surviving POD payees equally by default; parties may agree on other contractual terms (§ 362.471(3)-(4)).
Owner may cancel or change during life; contract may add terms. Chapter 461 change rules apply to deposits only if expressly incorporated (§§ 362.471(1), (4), 461.073(3)).
Bank may demand death proof and account evidence; proper payment gets full credit absent court process. Savings association has parallel terms; credit union may pause disputed POD payment (§§ 362.471(2), (6), 369.186(2), (4), 370.288).
New Jersey verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, CDs, share and like deposit contracts with covered financial institutions; Chapter 16I expressly includes POD accounts (§ 17:16I-2(a),(c),(e),(j)).
Account terms name one or more original payees and one or more POD payees; form and payment conditions follow deposit contract and institution rules (§§ 17:16I-2(j)-(l), 17:16I-16).
One or more designated persons may be POD payees; Chapter 16I does not separately define entity eligibility (§ 17:16I-2(j)-(k)).
Original payee owns POD account during life, subject to contrary creation-time intent shown by contract, deposit agreement or clear and convincing evidence; POD payee is not yet a party (§§ 17:16I-4, 17:16I-2(g)).
When an original payee dies, surviving original payees take under the joint-account rule; POD payees take after the sole or last original payee dies (§ 17:16I-5(a)-(b)).
Surviving POD payee(s) take at last original payee's death; if one payee dies before then, the other surviving payees take. Institution may pay last original payee's estate if all payees predeceased (§§ 17:16I-5(b), 17:16I-10).
Several payees surviving the last original payee have no later survivorship right unless account terms expressly provide it; § 17:16I-5(b)(2) does not assign a numerical share.
A party may alter form or stop/vary payment by signed written order received during life and not countermanded; a will cannot change POD designation (§§ 17:16I-6, 17:16I-5(e)).
POD payment requires request and proof of death showing payee survived original payees; payment under § 17:16I-10 discharges institution under § 17:16I-12(a), apart from beneficial ownership disputes.
New York verified 2026-10-08
Savings, share, certificate and deposit accounts at listed banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 7-5.1(c)–(d)).
Depositor describes self as trustee for another in the financial institution's account; distinct from an account under a separate trust instrument (§ 7-5.1(d)).
A person described by the depositor as the trust-account beneficiary; the statute does not specify a narrower class (§ 7-5.1(a)).
Depositor may withdraw or charge funds and modify the trust as § 7-5.2(1) allows; beneficiary's title vests only upon surviving the depositor, subject to the will rule (§ 7-5.2(4)).
For an account in joint-depositor survivorship form, depositors' title follows Banking Law § 675; surviving joint depositor takes before beneficiary (§§ 7-5.6, 675(a)).
If beneficiary dies first, trust ends and depositor keeps title; a surviving beneficiary takes at depositor's death unless a qualifying will changes it (§ 7-5.2(2)–(4)).
Surviving beneficiaries share equally, including a predeceased beneficiary's share, unless trust terms provide otherwise (§ 7-5.7(a)–(b)).
Lifetime withdrawal or an acknowledged/proved writing naming beneficiary and institution, filed there; a will may change it only with the precise direction in § 7-5.2(2).
Adult surviving beneficiary paid on demand; for minors, parent/guardian route depends on balance; payment before court restraint discharges institution (§§ 7-5.3–7-5.4).
North Carolina verified 2026-10-08
Deposit accounts at banks, savings banks and savings and loans; credit-union shares and deposits have a separate POD rule (§§ 53C-6-7, 54C-166.1, 54B-130.1, 54-109.57A).
Signed written agreement cites the applicable POD section and names owner(s) and beneficiary; owner also signs a conspicuous, substantially similar disclosure statement (same four sections).
One or more individual beneficiaries, or exactly one nonindividual entity beneficiary (§§ 53C-6-7(a)(4)-(5), 54-109.57A(a)(4)-(5)).
Owner may withdraw and direct beneficiary changes in writing; payee has no ownership before last owner's death (§§ 53C-6-7(a)(1),(3),(7), 54-109.57A(a)(1),(3),(7)).
Multiple POD owners hold as joint tenants with survivorship; beneficiary takes after the last surviving owner dies (same four sections).
Living payee takes at last owner's death; if all individual payees predecease an owner or entity ceases, account becomes owner's individual or survivorship joint account (same four sections).
Two or more surviving individual payees become joint tenants with survivorship; statute gives no equal separate-share allocation (§§ 53C-6-7(a)(4)a, 54-109.57A(a)(4)a).
Owner changes beneficiary by written direction to institution and may terminate account; statutory disclosure says funds are not controlled by will (same four sections).
Payment to adult payee(s) discharges institution as to amount paid; single minor payee goes to guardian or held for minor. Estate representative's limited collection right persists against paid payees (§§ 53C-6-7(a)(4),(7), 54-109.57A(a)(4),(7)).
Ohio verified 2026-10-08
Investment share certificates, share accounts, deposits and stock deposits at listed banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 2131.10).
Owner's written contract with covered institution; 'payable on death' may be abbreviated P.O.D. (§ 2131.10).
Another person or any entity or organization may be beneficiary (§ 2131.10).
Owner may withdraw whole or part and change payee; beneficiary's interest does not vest until owner's death (§ 2131.10).
For a separate either-or-survivor deposit, bank may pay a named owner or survivor; POD section addresses owner's death without ranking joint/POD claims (§§ 1109.07(A), 2131.10).
§ 2131.10 ties vesting to owner's death but gives no substitute-payee or estate default if named payee dies first; check contract.
§§ 2131.10–2131.11 do not assign shares or later survivorship among several payees; check institution contract.
Change must use institution-prescribed form and manner; owner retains withdrawal power; statute provides no independent will-change route (§ 2131.10).
Institution may pay owner during life or designated beneficiary after death; recipient's receipt or acquittance discharges payment (§ 2131.11).
Oklahoma verified 2026-10-08
Bank deposits, credit-union shares and deposits, and savings-association deposits; each statute covers listed transaction, savings and certificate accounts (6 O.S. §§ 901(C), 2025(B); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(C)).
POD account terms name the payee; multiple-beneficiary wording is a statutory model, and beneficiary changes use the institution's prescribed owner-executed form (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(6), (10), 2025(A)(6), (10); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(2), (5)).
Banks and credit unions: individual, trust, or qualifying tax-exempt nonprofit; savings associations: named individual or account-agreement trust (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(1), 2025(A)(1); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(1)).
Bank and credit-union beneficiaries take only after the last owner dies; credit-union owners expressly keep withdrawal and other control during life (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(2), (8), 2025(A)(2), (10)).
Bank and credit-union payees take after the last surviving owner dies; the savings-association provision speaks of the named owner's death (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(2), 2025(A)(2); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(1)).
Banks and credit unions redirect a predeceased primary's share to surviving primaries or permitted contingents, otherwise the owner's estate; savings associations send a predeceased payee's share to that payee's estate (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(5), (8), 2025(A)(5), (8); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(3)).
Bank and credit-union primaries share equally; permitted contingents also share equally. Savings associations prohibit unequal POD shares (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(8), 2025(A)(8); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(3)).
An owner must execute a change in the institution's prescribed form and manner; POD payment operates despite the cited will provisions (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(1), (10), 2025(A)(1), (10); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(1), (5)).
The institution holds or pays the proceeds after the applicable death; qualifying beneficiary or estate receipt discharges it, subject to the statutory notice qualification for banks and savings associations (6 O.S. §§ 901(B)(2), (11), 2025(A)(2), (11); 18 O.S. § 381.39a(B)(1), (6)).
Oregon verified 2026-10-08
Insured-institution checking, savings, and certificates of deposit under §§ 708A.455–.505; credit-union checking, savings, certificates, and share accounts under §§ 723.474–.494.
Account form or deposit agreement identifies original parties and POD payees; changing the form requires signed written order received during life and accepted under institution requirements (§§ 708A.455, 708A.475, 723.474; § 723.482).
One or more persons designated as POD payees on the account (§§ 708A.455(8)-(9), 723.474(8)-(9)).
Original parties own the POD account during life, not payees; joint owners’ interests follow net contributions absent clear and convincing contrary intent (§§ 708A.465; § 723.478).
Surviving original joint parties are rebuttably presumed entitled before POD payees; contrary intent or lack of capacity can defeat presumption (§§ 708A.470(1), (2)(a), (6), 723.480(1), (2)(a), (6)).
Surviving named payees take after last original party dies; if one payee predeceases, remaining named payees take. Otherwise decedent’s interest goes to estate (§§ 708A.470(2)(b), (4), 723.480(2)(b), (4)).
Several surviving payees take without later survivorship unless account or deposit agreement expressly gives it; statute specifies no initial numeric share split (§§ 708A.470(2)(b), 723.480(2)(b)).
Party may change account form by signed written order received during life, subject to institution terms and no countermand; a will cannot change POD rights (§§ 708A.475, 708A.470(5); § 723.482, 723.480(5)).
Institution may pay a payee with proof of surviving all originals; payment under statute discharges institution absent listed written stop notice, without settling beneficial rights (§§ 708A.495, 708A.505; § 723.490; § 723.494).
Pennsylvania verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates, shares and similar deposits at banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 6301).
Account form and deposit agreement name party/parties as trustee for beneficiary; payment-on-death wording is unnecessary (§ 6301).
One or more persons named as trust-account beneficiaries; Banking Code also permits an individual or nonprofit for covered banks (§ 6301; Banking Code § 605(a)).
Trustee normally owns beneficially during life; account terms or clear-and-convincing irrevocable-trust evidence can change that; beneficiary becomes account party after survival (§§ 6301, 6303(b)).
Account passes after last trustee dies; joint trustee's lifetime rights follow contributions, absent different intent (§§ 6303(a)–(b), 6304(b)).
Surviving named payees take at last trustee's death; if none survives, deceased party's rights pass to estate under other-cases rule (§ 6304(b)–(c)).
Surviving payees take; § 6304(b) does not set equal percentages; no later survivorship among them without express account/deposit terms.
Account form at death governs survivorship; will cannot change a trust-account beneficiary designation (§§ 6304(d), 6305).
For banks covered by Banking Code ch. 6, satisfactory trustee-death proof and beneficiary order control payment; § 6302 leaves institution liability to other law (§§ 601, 605).
South Carolina verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, share accounts, and similar deposits at banks, savings institutions, and credit unions (§ 62-6-101(1), (4)).
Account terms may name POD beneficiaries; substantially statutory sample form establishes type, while another form follows the type closest to depositor intent (§§ 62-6-101(10), 62-6-103, 62-6-104).
One or more persons; beneficiary definition includes an account party named as trustee for a beneficiary. A minor beneficiary has a special payment route (§§ 62-6-101(3), (10), 62-6-305).
Parties own in proportion to net contributions absent clear and convincing contrary intent; POD beneficiary has no right to the balance during their lives (§ 62-6-201).
Surviving original parties generally take first; a POD designation on a multiple-party account without survivorship is ineffective (§ 62-6-202(a)-(c)).
Surviving beneficiaries take after the last party dies; if none survives, the balance goes to that party’s estate (§ 62-6-202(b)(2)).
Two or more surviving beneficiaries receive equal undivided shares, with no later survivorship among them (§ 62-6-202(b)(2)).
Party may change terms or vary payment by signed notice received during life. Clear and convincing evidence, including express will language, can alter joint-account survivorship (§ 62-6-203(a)-(b)).
Institution may pay beneficiary on request with proof of surviving all parties; payment by account terms discharges it unless timely written stop notice or process limits protection (§§ 62-6-303, 62-6-306).
Tennessee verified 2026-10-08
Bank deposit accounts; savings associations may use the same trust or POD terms; credit unions apply them to POD share accounts and trust share deposits (§§ 45-2-704, 45-3-515, 45-4-406).
Bank POD account requires a written contract; 'P.O.D.' may abbreviate the designation. Trust-form deposit has separate terms (§ 45-2-704(a)-(b)).
One or more persons may be death payees; a living trust may also be designated, with documents the bank may require (§ 45-2-704(b)(1), (d)).
Owner may withdraw, assign, pledge, or delete/change the payee; payee's interest does not vest until the last owner dies (§ 45-2-704(b)(3)-(4)).
Joint POD owners must hold as tenants with right of survivorship; death transfer follows the last surviving owner (§ 45-2-704(b)(1), (4)).
Default: payee must survive last owner; if none does, balance stays in last owner's estate, unless contract changes this (§ 45-2-704(b)(5)).
Surviving payees take equal shares by default; contract may differ. Bank may pay each equally or all as tenants in common (§ 45-2-704(b)(5), (7)).
Change needs bank-prescribed form and manner plus authorization by all living owners; a will alone does not satisfy that form (§ 45-2-704(b)(6)).
Bank may require death certificate or acceptable proof, pay surviving payees, and rely on their receipt; contested payments may go to interpleader (§ 45-2-704(b)(7)-(9)).
Texas verified 2026-10-08
Estates Code Ch. 113 includes checking, savings, CDs and share deposits at banks and credit unions; its broader account definition also includes securities (§ 113.001(1), (3)).
Written agreement signed by original payee(s) for death transfer; § 113.052 provides optional selection form, and near-equivalent deposit contract qualifies (§§ 113.051–.052, 113.152(a)).
A person, trustee of written express trust, or qualifying charitable organization may be a POD payee (§ 113.001(2-a), (5)).
Original payee owns POD account during life; named POD payee does not; original payee may request payment (§§ 113.103(a), 113.204(a)).
POD payees take only after death of the surviving original payee when two or more original payees are named (§§ 113.004(4), 113.152(a)).
Surviving POD payee(s) take; if none survives, account rights pass with last original payee’s estate (§§ 113.152(a), 113.155).
Two or more surviving payees take, with no later survivorship between them unless account or deposit agreement expressly provides it (§ 113.152(a)–(b)).
Party may alter form or payment by signed written order received by institution during life; transfer is contractual and nontestamentary (§§ 113.157–.158).
Proof that payee survived every original payee permits payment; authorized payment discharges institution, subject to its written stop-notice exception (§§ 113.001(6), 113.204, 113.209).
Utah verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates, share accounts and similar deposits at covered financial institutions, including banks and credit unions (Utah Code § 75-6-101(1), (3), (10)).
Account form or deposit agreement designates POD payees; a payment request must meet the account's conditions (Utah Code §§ 75-6-101(10)-(12), 75-6-105).
One or more persons designated as POD payees; the provision does not list a narrower payee class (Utah Code § 75-6-101(10)-(11)).
The original party owns the POD account during life, not the named payee; withdrawal power follows the account contract (Utah Code §§ 75-6-103(2), 75-6-102).
At one joint original party's death, surviving parties take subject to the statute's contrary-intent rule; POD payees take after the sole or last original party dies (Utah Code § 75-6-104(1)-(2)).
A payee who dies before the last original party is displaced by surviving named payees; if no payee survives, the residual estate rule governs (Utah Code § 75-6-104(2)(b), (4)).
Surviving payees take, but the statute does not set an initial numerical split; later survivorship between them requires express account or deposit terms (Utah Code § 75-6-104(2)(b)).
Signed written order received during the party's life may change account form or stop or vary payment; a will cannot change the POD designation (Utah Code §§ 75-6-105, 75-6-104(5)).
Institution may pay an original party on request or a payee on proof of death showing payee survived all originals; qualifying payment discharges it, subject to a written stop notice (Utah Code §§ 75-6-110, 75-6-112).
Virginia verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, CDs, share and similar deposits at banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 6.2-604).
Account terms designate one or more original payees for life and one or more POD payees after all original payees die; payment requests must satisfy account conditions (§ 6.2-604).
One or more persons designated as POD payees; § 6.2-604 supplies no separate trust or entity eligibility rule.
Original payee owns POD account during life; POD payee has no present withdrawal right (§§ 6.2-606(B), 6.2-604).
Surviving original payee(s) take under joint-account survivorship before POD payees; POD payees take after last original payee dies (§ 6.2-608(A)-(B)).
Payees must survive last original payee; surviving named payees take when another died first. Payment to last original payee's estate may follow if no payee survives (§§ 6.2-608(B), 6.2-614).
Several payees surviving owner have no later survivorship right unless account terms expressly provide it; statute gives no numerical default share (§ 6.2-608(B)(2)).
A party changes account form or stops/varies payment by signed written order received during life and not countermanded; a will cannot change the POD designation (§§ 6.2-609, 6.2-608(E)).
Original party may request payment; payee or representative/heirs may request with proof of survival. Authorized payment discharges institution but does not settle ownership disputes (§§ 6.2-614, 6.2-616).
Washington verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, CDs, savings certificates, share accounts and like deposits at banks, savings institutions and credit unions (§ 30A.22.040(1),(8)).
POD payee is designated under the deposit contract; it may name one or several depositors and payees (§ 30A.22.040(17)-(18)).
One or more persons may be named; 'person' includes a trust, corporation, partnership and other legal entity (§ 30A.22.040(9),(17)).
Depositor may request payment under account terms; payee becomes a depositor only when entitled after surviving required depositor(s) (§§ 30A.22.040(5),(18), 30A.22.110).
Surviving joint depositor with survivorship takes before POD payee; without survivorship, deceased depositor's designated POD interest can pass at death (§ 30A.22.100(2)-(4)).
POD payee must survive required depositor(s); surviving named payees take; personal representative of payee who survived owner may receive payment after that payee dies (§§ 30A.22.100(4), 30A.22.180(3)).
Surviving payees take equally unless deposit contract specifies a different method; no later survivorship among them unless contract expressly provides (§ 30A.22.100(4)).
Beneficiary rights arise from express deposit-contract terms; chapter gives no separate change form, and depositor's will cannot alter POD rights (§§ 30A.22.100, 30A.22.120).
Institution may pay payee upon proof of required depositors' deaths; absent actual knowledge of dispute, compliant payment discharges institution without settling beneficial ownership (§§ 30A.22.160, 30A.22.120, 30A.22.110).
Wisconsin verified 2026-10-08
Checking, savings, certificates of deposit, share accounts, and similar deposits at banks, savings institutions, and credit unions (§ 705.01(1), (3)).
Conspicuous POD terms on account document near signatures; statutory wording is substantial form, with intent-evidence fallback for deficient form (§§ 705.01(1), 705.02(1), (3)).
One or more named persons; a minor may be a payee but payment needs an approved procedure (§§ 705.01(8)-(9), 705.04(2)(f)).
Original payee owns account during life; POD beneficiary does not. Surviving original payee may change or revoke designation (§ 705.03(2)).
Surviving original payee precedes POD payees; marital POD account affects only deceased spouse's half (§§ 705.02(1)(c), 705.04(2)(g)).
Survivor takes; qualifying issue of deceased payee may substitute under § 854.06, subject to contingent-payee terms. If neither payee nor qualifying issue survives, estate takes (§§ 705.04(2)(a), (d)-(e), 854.06(2)-(4)).
Filed written owner instructions set shares; otherwise surviving payees take equally. Predeceased payee's issue may have a separate claim (§§ 705.04(2)(b), (d), 705.06(1)(c)).
Surviving original payee may amend or revoke at will; will cannot change POD designation, subject to § 853.15's equitable-election rule (§§ 705.03(2), 705.04(3), 853.15(1)).
Institution may pay named survivor on death proof even despite issue claim; statutory payment discharges it but does not decide beneficial ownership (§ 705.06(1)(c), (2)-(3)).

This survey covers 30 of 51 jurisdictions so far; new states are verified and added continuously. A state missing here hasn't been verified yet. We don't publish unverified answers. Arkansas is a separate case: no official statute text is publicly available to quote there.

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