Joint Tenancy. If you take title as joint tenants, you share equal ownership of the property and each of you has the right to use the entire property. If one joint tenant dies, the other automatically becomes the owner of the deceased person's share, even if there's a will to the contrary.
As long as you and your ex can agree on how to divide up your assets, there is no need to involve lawyers or the court system. Even if children are involved, in most states you have the opportunity to separate in private, ing to whatever arrangements the two of you agree on.
Unmarried partners can best protect their home for each other by placing it in a joint trust.
Technically, the traditional way for a married couple with the same last name is ``Mr. and Mrs. John Doe,'' which also turns my inner feminist tomato red, but a lot of the other options (married, different last names, for example) use the ``Mr. John Doe and Mrs. Jane Day'' format. :)
Unmarried couples typically hold title in one of two ways: joint or tenancy in common.
Property. If an unmarried couple owns a house, or other substantial property together, it will be divided equally upon separation.
To create a joint tenancy in California, the deed must clearly state the intention to create a joint tenancy. Phrases like “as joint tenants” or “with right of survivorship” should be included in the deed. It's also essential that all joint tenants sign the deed.