Property Common Tenancy

In estate law, joint tenancy is a special form of ownership by two or more persons of the same property. The individuals, who are called joint tenants, share equal ownership of the property and have the equal, undivided right to keep or dispose of the property. Joint tenancy creates a Right of Survivorship.

You can change from being either: joint tenants to tenants in common, for example if you divorce or separate and want to leave your share of the property to someone else. tenants in common to joint tenants, for example if you get married and want to have equal rights to the whole property.

Each party has a full ownership interest in the property. The property will pass instantly to the survivor upon the death of the other without probate. Conveyance by one party without the other breaks the joint tenancy. Seller warrants that he/she has good title and will warrant and defend title.

Most married couples tend to hold their property as joint tenants.Should this happen, the property is then automatically held as Tenants in Common which means the co-owner is free to leave their share of the property to whoever they wish. As Tenants in Common, each co-owner owns a specific share of the property.

Often Tenants in Common is used for Inheritance Tax planning and can also be used to prevent having to sell your home if you need to go into long-term care. And is also a way for couples to protect their share in case of separation or divorce. A Tenant in Common can gift their share of the property in their Will.

' Spouses typically acquire title as tenants by the entireties, which only applies to spouses. Sometimes you will see a couple who acquired the property before marriage. In some states, a pre-marital joint tenancy automatically becomes tenants by the entireties upon marriage.

Serve a written notice of the change (a 'notice of severance') on the other owners - a conveyancer can help you do this. Download and fill in form SEV to register a restriction without the other owners' agreement. Prepare any supporting documents you need to include.

In California, most married couples hold real property (such as land and buildings) as joint tenants with right of survivorship.For instance, many married couples share real property as joint tenants. This way, upon the death of a spouse, the surviving spouse will own 100% share of the property.

DISADVANTAGES OF TENANTS IN COMMONTenants in Common is a more complex arrangement and some people may prefer the simplicity and efficiency of the home passing by survivorship.