Joint tenants (JT), or joint tenants with rights of survivorship (JTWROS), are the forms of ownership most commonly used by married couples.
For instance, if you're married, the most common way to title your home is Tenancy by the Entirety (TBE).
N Owners have survivorship rights. If one joint-owner dies, that owner's interest in the property passes to the other joint owners. For example if one of two joint owners dies, the survivor becomes the sole owner of the property.
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.
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.