Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS)
A property owned by joint tenants is “owned by two or more persons in equal shares, by a title created by a single will or transfer, when expressly declared in the will or transfer to be a joint tenancy, or by transfer from a sole owner to himself or herself and others, or from tenants in common or joint tenants to ...
Joint tenancy is a form of property ownership that is important for several reasons, primarily due to its unique characteristics and advantages. There are several different types of joint tenancy.
(1) “TEN COM” means tenants in common. (2) “TEN ENT” means tenants by the entireties. (3) “JT TEN” or “JT” means joint tenants with the right of survivorship and not as tenants in common.
For example, if two unmarried partners make equal contributions toward purchasing a inium and they choose to hold title as joint tenants, the surviving joint tenant will automatically become the sole and separate owner of the inium after the first joint tenant dies.
A key characteristic of joint tenancy is the Right of Survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s). This means that ownership is not part of the deceased owner's estate and does not require probate to transfer.
Joint tenants (JT), or joint tenants with rights of survivorship (JTWROS), are the forms of ownership most commonly used by married couples. In general this means that both parties own 100% of the property and there is no divided interest as there is with TIC.
In most cases, you'll enter what's called a joint tenants with right of survivorship agreement. Known by its acronym, JTWROS, this agreement spells out the legal rights of all owners of a property and outlines what happens if one of the owners dies or wants to sell the home.
Yes, one owner of a joint tenancy property can unilaterally, and without the knowledge or consent of your co-tenant(s), transfer their ownership via quitclaim deed to a third person who is acting as a ``straw-man''.