Joint Tenancy in Real Estate

Joint Tenancy allows the real estate to transfer to the surviving owner(s) on the death of one owner. It is most commonly used between spouses but is used in other situations and between more than two people.
There are many other ways to own land: Tenants in Common, Family Trusts, Partnerships, LLC’s, Corporations. Individuals usually hold real estate as joint tenants or tenants in common.

What It Does

This type of joint ownership allows for the surviving owners to receive the real estate upon the death of the other owner(s). It is most commonly used between spouses.

Upon the death of one, the surviving spouse records an affidavit of survivorship and a death certificate in the county recorder’s office. The ownership of the property is then transferred to that person.

The great advantage is the transfer happens without probate, attorneys, courts or major cost. The affidavit of survivorship is a simple one page document, easily prepared.

How To Use It

Using this type of vesting is simple. The following words “as Joint Tenants” is added after the buyer’s name on the purchase deed. If it isn’t added, the buyers can record a new deed at anytime to add it.

The following phrases are sometimes used instead of Joint Tenants; “husband and wife, as joint tenants”, or “as joint tenants with full rights of survivorship”. There are many combinations but the main part is “as Joint Tenants”.

In some states simply adding “husband and wife” after the buyers names is enough. To be safe always use “as joint tenants”. You can add the extra wording if you prefer.

Any owner can cancel this vesting between themselves and the other owner or owners. They record a deed transferring their interest to themselves or someone else without using the joint tenants wording. When they do, the remaining owners (if more that one) are still joint tenants.

When To Use It

The most common use of this joint ownership is between husband and wife but can be used in other situations and between more than two people. No matter how many people are joint tenants upon the death of one, ownership reverts to the survivors. Joint tenants is used anytime you want the surviving owners to own the property instead of the estate of the deceased owner.

Cautions

Several cautions are in order. First, make sure you want the property to go to the surviving owner(s). A common vesting error is when a couple with separate children buy real property as joint tenants when they intended their own children to receive their share of the land.

Summary

Joint Tenancy allows ownership of real estate to pass to surviving owner(s) upon the death of one of the owners. It is simple to use by adding the correct wording to a deed when purchasing land. It can be added or removed at anytime by recording a new deed at the county recorder’s office.

It is not the correct vesting for every situation. Decide what you are trying to accomplish and then choose the correct vesting.

A Tale of Stolen Inheritance of Utah Real Estate

The following story is the best way to illustrate the importance of Utah real estate vesting.

Jim Duncan was a 70 year old widower with 3 grown children. His 2 daughters were married and lived out of state. His son Thomas, also married, lived next to him on the family farm, which had been in the family for 5 generations. His son now handled most of the work on the farm. The farm was on the edge of a mid-size city and was worth several million dollars. Neither Jim nor his son had any interest in selling the farm, to them it was a way of life.

Thomas Duncan would be the 6th generation to own and run the farm. He would pass it on to his children, as the family had done for over 100 years. Thomas was happy when his dad decided to remarry. His new step mom was a few years younger than his father, with two grown children, which he met at the wedding.

Just 2 years later his father, and his fathers wife, were killed in a car accident. His father died at the scene, the wife died 2 days later in the hospital, without regaining consciousness. The funeral was the second time he met her children. A week later they offered to sell him the farm – for 2 million dollars! Thomas thought it was a joke. After consulting with his attorney, he learned they owned everything. Thomas was unable to pay the price and the farm was sold to someone else.

How Did This Happen?

I have seen this type of scenario happen several times. Here is what happened. When Jim Duncan remarried he transferred the farm to himself and his new wife, as “joint tenants”. Joint Tenants is the vesting (type of ownership) which allows the property to go to the owner that lives the longest; in this case the new wife.

This is the most common way of transferring property, to a married couple, and is usually the correct way. Using “Joint Tenants’ when a spouse dies, the property goes to the surviving spouse without attorneys or courts involved. Upon the death of Jim Duncan, in the car accident, the property automatically transferred to his wife. On her death, the property transferred to her heirs, as she was now the sole owner. Her heirs were her 2 children, not Tom Duncan.

The Moral of Utah Real Estate Vesting

Make sure you know the correct way to have property transferred, or the correct real estate vesting. It really does matter!

Note: The names and some details have been changed to protect the privacy of the parties involved. In this case the property should have been tenants in common.

Joint Tenancy in Real Estate. Joint Tenancy allows the real estate to transfer to the surviving owner(s) on the death of one owner. It is most commonly used between spouses but is used in other situations and between more than two people.

Tenancy in Common in Real Estate. Tenancy in Common is the standard form of vesting, allowing real estate to pass to the owner’s heirs. When a owners dies their part of the land passes to their heirs instead of the remaining owners. In contrast, Joint Tenancy passes the property to the surviving owners.

The Family Trust and Real Estate. A Family Trust, also known as a Family Living Trust or a Revocable Family Trust, is a legal entity created by a Trust Agreement to hold ownership to your personal and real property. Your attorney will create the necessary documents to establish the trust. A Trust is created for estate planning purposes.

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