The owner of property can create a document the will designate who will hold title to that property when the owner dies. This document is called a beneficiary deed; this document can reduce the amount of time that it takes to transfer property ownership after the original owner dies. Even though the beneficiary deed gives ownership to the beneficiary the owner can still live on the property and if they want to, they can refinance it. The owner of the property can treat the property as their own for as long as they live without the beneficiary having to give their permission to their activities. The legal details of a beneficiary deed will vary from state to state, in some states the spouse must give approval to beneficiary being added to the deed, the spouse can ask for half of the value of the property in exchange for her signature.