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Simple English definitions for legal terms
POD
Read a random definition: assignment-of-income doctrine
A quick definition of POD:
POD: Payable-on-death (POD) is a way to make sure that when someone dies, their bank account or other things they own go directly to the person they choose. This helps avoid problems and costs that can happen when someone dies and their things have to go through a legal process called probate. With POD, the person who owns the things can pick who gets them after they die. They can even pick more than one person. But if the person they picked dies before they do, the things will go to someone else according to a will or other legal rules.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Payable-on-death (POD) refers to a designation that allows a bank account or other asset to be directly transferred to its assigned beneficiary upon the death of the owner.
For example, if someone has a bank account with a POD designation, they can choose a beneficiary to receive the money in the account when they pass away. This means that the beneficiary can receive the money without having to go through a long and expensive legal process called probate.
POD can be used for other assets besides bank accounts, such as stocks, bonds, and real estate. It is a way to make sure that the asset goes to the person the owner wants to have it, without any legal complications.
One thing to keep in mind is that the owner of a POD asset can change the beneficiary while they are still alive. However, if the beneficiary passes away before the owner, there is no way to assign a new beneficiary. In that case, the asset will be distributed according to the owner's will or other legal documents.