What types of co-ownership interests exist in property?

It is very common for individuals (particularly family members) and businesses to own property collectively. The most common forms of co-ownership of property are Joint Tenancy, Tenancy in Common, and Tenants by the Entirety. 

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What is a Joint Tenancy? 

All owners of the real property are indicated on the title and each owns an equal an undivided interest in the property. There is a right of survivorship among owners. The interests of all owners are unified, so that when one owner passes away the other owners acquire the deceased owners interest. If any owner seeks to sell or transfer her interest in the property, the joint tenancy is broken and the ownership becomes a tenancy in common.

What is a Tenancy in Common? 

Each owner owns a specific percentage of the property. This percentage of ownership is separate from other owners interest. The ownership interest is not unified; rather, it is divisible. Any owner can sell her ownership interest and there is no right of survivorship. If the owner passes away, her ownership interest passes to her heirs and assigns. The remaining owners do not acquire the deceased owners interest.

What is a Tenancy by the Entirety? 

This is a method of joint ownership in property by married spouses. Each spouse owns and equal and undivided interest in the real property. There is a right of survivorship, so either spouse will inherit complete ownership of the property when the other spouse passes. The land passes automatically without having to go through probate. Neither spouse may transfer the property without the other spouses consent. There is a presumption of tenancy by the entirety in most states, unless the deed or title indicates that only one spouse is the owner of the property.

Practice Question: Elaine and Jerry are co-owners of property that they use in their business venture. They own the property as joint tenants. What happens to the property if either Jerry or Elaine pass away?

• Joint tenancy is a form of ownership by two or more individuals together. It differs from other types of co-ownership in that the surviving joint tenant immediately becomes the owner of the whole property upon the death of the other joint tenant. This is referred to as the right of survivorship. Joint tenancy property passes outside of probate. Each joint tenant has an equal, undivided interest in the whole property. If one or both of the joint tenants dies, the tenancy can continue through third parties appointed by the joint tenants before their death.

Academic Research on Land Ownership

• Carlson, David Gray, The Federal Law of Property: The Case of Inheritance Disclaimers and Tenancy by the Entireties (August 15, 2017). Washington and Lee Law Review, Vol. 75; Cardozo Legal Studies Research Paper No. 521. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3019570 
• Brodsky, Karen, Creations and Terminations of Joint Tenancies in Real Property When One Spouse is Not a U.S. Citizen. University of Baltimore Law Review, Vol. 34, p. 287, 2005. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=868325 
• Hines, N. William, Joint Tenancies in Iowa Today (January 25, 2012). U Iowa Legal Studies Research Paper No. 12-04. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1991921 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1991921 
• Bernhardt, Roger, Severing a Joint Tenancy as a Property Tax Change in Ownership (May 30, 2014). CEB 36 Real Property Law Reporter #6, December 2013. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2445015 
• Rivers James, Faith, Inequity in Equity: The Tragedy of Tenancy in Common for Heirs' Property Owners Facing Partition in Equity (August 25, 2009). Temple Political & Civil Rights Law Review, Vol. 17, No. 1, 2007-2008; Elon University Law Legal Studies Research Paper No. 2009-11. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1461639 
• Lipton, Richard M., New Rules Likely to Increase Use of Tenancy-in-Common Ownership in Like-Kind Exchanges. Journal of Taxation, Vol. 96, P. 303, May 2002. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=317641