If a joint tenant conveys their interest to a third party, the joint tenancy is severed, and the ownership among the remaining parties becomes what?

If a joint tenant conveys their interest to a third party, the joint tenancy is severed, and the ownership among the remaining parties becomes what?

• A. Joint Tenancy
• B. Tenancy in Common
• C. Tenancy by Entirety
• D. Fee Simple

Answer: (B)

The key idea is that joint tenancy rests on equal unities of time, title, interest, and possession plus the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant transfers their interest to a third party, those unities are broken for that share, so the joint tenancy is severed. The result is that the transferee now holds a tenancy in common with the remaining co-owners, and all parties hold undivided possession with distinct, transferable interests and no right of survivorship. Therefore, the remaining ownership among the parties becomes tenancy in common.

The key idea is that joint tenancy rests on equal unities of time, title, interest, and possession plus the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant transfers their interest to a third party, those unities are broken for that share, so the joint tenancy is severed. The result is that the transferee now holds a tenancy in common with the remaining co-owners, and all parties hold undivided possession with distinct, transferable interests and no right of survivorship. Therefore, the remaining ownership among the parties becomes tenancy in common.