Joint Tenants is a form of property ownership where two or more individuals own property together with equal rights. It is characterized by the “right of survivorship,” meaning when one owner passes away, their share of the property automatically transfers to the surviving owners.
With joint tenancy the right of survivorship is implied, so if one joint tenant dies, the other joint tenant or tenants automatically become the owners of the deceased tenant's interest in the property without the property having to pass through probate.
Unlike joint tenancy, there is no right of survivorship when title is held as community property. Each spouse may pass their one-half share to their heirs as they please. If the decedent's community property interest is transferred pursuant to a last will and testament, it will be subject to probate.
The legal concept incompatible with a joint tenancy is Escheat. Joint tenancy ensures that upon the death of one owner, their share automatically transfers to the surviving co-owner(s), which conflicts with the escheatment process that transfers property to the state.
If any one joint tenant conveys away his entire interest to a third party the joint tenancy is sev- ered as between the conveying party and his joint tenants, and the conveyee becomes a tenant in common with the remaining tenant." Also if a joint tenant conveys his entire interest to one of his co-tenants, there is a ...
Unity of Time, Title, Interest, and Possession: For a joint tenancy to be valid, all joint tenants must acquire their interest in the property at the same time, through the same deed, with equal interest, and have equal rights to possess the entire property.