Which of the following best describes the nature of a deed held in a death escrow?

A deed held in a death escrow is characterized by being retained by a third party until specified conditions are met, typically the death of the grantor. This arrangement allows the grantor to ensure that the deed, which may transfer ownership of property, is secure and only released when the triggering event occurs, maintaining the intent of controlling the transfer of property posthumously.

The third-party custodian, often an attorney or a title company, safeguards the deed to ensure that it is not acted upon prematurely. This method provides peace of mind by ensuring that the property only changes hands according to the wishes articulated at the time of creating the escrow.

In contrast, other options present different scenarios: having the deed remain with the grantor until death suggests a lack of control over the transfer, immediate delivery upon signing implies that the transfer process is complete without consideration for future events, and filing with the court indicates a legal process that does not apply specifically to the nature of escrow arrangements. Thus, the essence of a deed in death escrow is the protection and conditional transfer until the defined event occurs.