Lady Bird Deeds: A Primer for the Texas Practitioner

Enhanced life estate deeds are also known as Lady Bird deeds and allow a grantor to transfer property to beneficiaries while retaining a life estate in the property coupled with the power to sell, convey, or mortgage the property without the beneficiaries’ consent. Texas is one of the few states that permit Lady Bird deeds. This article discusses the basics of Lady Bird deeds, some of the reasons to use such a deed, and alternatives to Lady Bird deeds.