Utilizing a revocable trust is the best way for a married couple to take title. Titling property in your trust avoids probate upon the death of both the initial and surviving spouses and preserves the capital gains step up for the entire property on the first death.
For instance, if you're married, the most common way to title your home is Tenancy by the Entirety (TBE).
Joint tenants (JT), or joint tenants with rights of survivorship (JTWROS), are the forms of ownership most commonly used by married couples.
You will need to record a deed to add a name. The deed will need to contain the complete legal description of the parcel you wish to convey. We recommend you have the deed notarized prior to recording it with the county recorder's office.
Joint tenancy is most common among married couples because it helps property owners avoid probate. Without joint tenancy, a spouse would have to wait for their partner's Last Will to go through a legal review process—which can take months or even years.
The key difference is in post-mortem property sale taxation. Joint tenancy triggers capital gains tax on property sales after a spouse's death. CPWROS exempts it. Additionally, joint tenancy is open to anyone, while community property is usually for married couples.
The state of Arizona is a community property state. Property law in Arizona falls under ARS Title 33 of the Arizona Revised Statutes, and joint tenancy with the right of survivorship is under ARS Title 33-431 of the same Statutes.
Utilizing a revocable trust is the best way for a married couple to take title. Titling property in your trust avoids probate upon the death of both the initial and surviving spouses and preserves the capital gains step up for the entire property on the first death.