Several heirs received title to an office building in unequal shares as the result of a will. They would hold title as?

Several heirs received title to an office building in unequal shares as the result of a will. They would hold title as?

• A. Severalty.
• B. Joint tenants with right of survivorship.
• C. Tenants by the entireties.
• D. Tenants in common.

Answer: (D)

The heirs who received title to the office building in unequal shares would hold title as tenants in common. This form of ownership allows each co-owner to possess a specific percentage of the property, which does not have to be equal among the owners. Tenancy in common is characterized by the fact that each co-owner has the right to possess the whole property, yet they can own differing proportions of the property. Importantly, when one tenant in common dies, their share of the property does not automatically pass to the other co-owners; instead, it becomes part of their estate and can be inherited according to their will or state law. This contrasts with other forms of ownership such as severalty, where one person holds full title alone; joint tenants with the right of survivorship, where co-owners have equal shares and automatic transfer to the surviving owner upon death; and tenants by the entireties, which is limited to married couples allowing for equal ownership and rights of survivorship. In this scenario, since the heirs have received unequal shares, tenancy in common is the appropriate designation for their ownership.

The heirs who received title to the office building in unequal shares would hold title as tenants in common. This form of ownership allows each co-owner to possess a specific percentage of the property, which does not have to be equal among the owners.

Tenancy in common is characterized by the fact that each co-owner has the right to possess the whole property, yet they can own differing proportions of the property. Importantly, when one tenant in common dies, their share of the property does not automatically pass to the other co-owners; instead, it becomes part of their estate and can be inherited according to their will or state law.

This contrasts with other forms of ownership such as severalty, where one person holds full title alone; joint tenants with the right of survivorship, where co-owners have equal shares and automatic transfer to the surviving owner upon death; and tenants by the entireties, which is limited to married couples allowing for equal ownership and rights of survivorship. In this scenario, since the heirs have received unequal shares, tenancy in common is the appropriate designation for their ownership.