By Michaela Bishop
Northeast News
August 19, 2015

KANSAS CITY, Missouri — Have you put any thought to what will happen to your home after you die? If so, did you sign a beneficiary deed?

Many people, before they die, have an idea on who they are going to give their most valuable and prized possessions. What people may not know, is that without a beneficiary deed, the process is much longer. A beneficiary deed is not a will. The difference between the two is quite simple: a will covers many items that the person owns and a beneficiary deed only covers the person’s home. Kayla Hogan, a paralegal on the beneficiary deed project for Legal Aid of Western Missouri, said a beneficiary deed is important to all homeowners.

“Handling assets individually in this way saves a person’s surviving family from the cost and time expenses of enforcing a will through probate court,” Hogan said.

Even though homeowners sign the document, they still are the homeowner and if they wish to change the deed to the next homeowner, they can do so. The beneficiary deed is a grant-funded project, so services are free of charge to those who apply.

Hogan mentioned that any homeowners over 60-years-old may apply and any homeowner under 60 must meet Legal Aid’s income guidelines. Carole Thomason, a Kansas City resident, said her process took a less than an hour to finalize.

“It went pretty easily,” Thomason said. “She was very patient and explained everything on the deed that I needed to know to make sure I knew what all of it meant.”

The process consists of one phone call, along with one in-person interview at the Legal Aid of Western Missouri, 1125 Grand Blvd. If you cannot drive, they will come to your home. All finalized beneficiary deeds are filed at the Recorder of Deeds office.

“Beneficiary deeds may not be filed retroactively after a homeowner’s death,” Hogan said. “It is a proactive document that ensures someone is in line to become the homeowner once the current homeowner passes away.”

Thomason currently has a beneficiary deed on file. Thomason said she feels good about the deed and is happy she’s finally at ease about the subject.

“I did what needed to be done,” Thomason said. “I feel very confident that everything will be alright. I was trying to make sure my son was taken care of when I’m gone. It’s important and sometimes we forget about this kind of stuff.”

If you are interested in getting a free beneficiary deed, contact Kayla Hogan at 816-474-1413, extension 5275.