The primary pitfalls are the need for agreement, the potential for assets to be frozen, and loss of control over the distribution of assets after death. Tenancy in common is an alternative to joint tenancy that avoids some of its drawbacks.
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.
Joint tenants have an equal share in the ownership of an asset. If a joint tenant dies, the other tenant (or tenants) has a right of survivorship. The deceased tenant's interest is not an asset of their estate.
Historically, the common law required that in order for a joint tenancy to be created, the co-owners must share the “four unities” of (1) time – the property interest must be acquired by both tenants at the same time; (2) title - both tenants must have the same title to the property in the deed; (3) interest - both ...
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.
By jointly owning property, you may find yourself party to a lawsuit if your co-owner is sued or the asset could be lost to a creditor of your co-owner. If your co-owner becomes incapacitated, you could find yourself “owning” the property with the co-owner's guardian or the courts.
These are Joint Tenants and Tenants in Common. They apply regardless of whether you are married, in a civil partnership, or unmarried. Both these two types of ownership give the owners rights of occupation in the property, whether you are married or unmarried.
Tenants in common gives you more protections and you can specify in a deed of trust what you would want to happen in the event of relationship breakdown (eg if one of you has first dibs to buy the other out, or a time limit on doing so etc) which is definitely better to decide now whilst you still like each other!
The most common types include joint tenancy, tenancy in common, tenants by entirety, sole ownership, and community property.
5 different types of title vesting Joint tenancy with right of survivorship (JTWROS) This is often a common vesting for married couples, but it also applies to family members planning to own a property together. Community property with right of survivorship. Tenancy in common. Sole ownership. Living trust.