joint tenancy

joint tenancy (plural joint tenancies)

1. (law) A form of ownership by two or more individuals in which the share in the asset belonging to any of the owners passes automatically to the other owners upon death, without requiring probate.
   • 1894, Norman L. Freeman, Reports of Cases at Law and in Chancery Argued and Determined in the Supreme Court of Illinois, volume 148:

     The act of 1821, “concerning partition and joint rights and obligations,” undertook to deal only with joint tenancies and tenancies in common, held by the tenants in their own rights or in right of their wives.

   • 2001, Gerald R. Cortesi, Mastering Real Estate Principles, →ISBN, page 132:

     Whether it is a tenancy in common or a joint tenancy, there are several ways to end the co-ownership.

   • 2014, Gilbert Kodilinye, Commonwealth Caribbean Property Law, →ISBN, page 105:

     In Commonwealth Caribbean jurisdictions, apart from Belize, the pre-1926 co-ownership rules apply. Under these rules, both joint tenancies and tenancies in common can exist at law in equity as legal estates and equitable interests respectively.

• tenancy in common