Joint tenancy is the ownership of real property by two or more co-owners (joint tenants) who have identical interests in the property—and also have a right of survivorship.

A right of survivorship means that upon the death of a joint tenant the property passes directly to the other joint tenant(s), allowing the ownership to be transferred to the surviving joint tenant(s) without going through the probate or court systems. A joint tenancy is sometimes referred to as a joint tenancy with right of survivorship.

This right of survivorship is what distinguishes a joint tenancy from a tenancy in common, in which co-owners hold the property as tenants in common. In some states the right of survivorship must be clearly expressed in the document transferring or conveying the property to the joint tenants, or the tenancy will be presumed to be a tenancy in common.

Laws vary from state to state and in many states the law regarding joint ownership of real property is located in a state’s statutes—although it may also be located in a state’s court opinions (common law or case law).

In Massachusetts, joint tenancy is a form of property co-ownership that provides a right of survivorship among the co-owners, meaning that when one joint tenant dies, their interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s) without the need for probate. To create a joint tenancy in Massachusetts, the four unities of possession, interest, time, and title must be present, and the intent to create a joint tenancy must be clear in the deed or conveyance document. If the deed does not explicitly state the right of survivorship, the ownership may be presumed to be a tenancy in common, which does not include the right of survivorship. It is important for individuals to ensure that the property deed clearly indicates the creation of a joint tenancy with the right of survivorship to avoid any ambiguity. An attorney can provide guidance on drafting the appropriate documents to establish joint tenancy and can help explain the implications of this form of property ownership.