Under which form of ownership is one's interest not inheritable?

Under which form of ownership is one's interest not inheritable?

• A. Severalty
• B. Tenants in common
• C. Joint tenancy
• D. All forms are inheritable

Answer: (C)

In joint tenancy, an individual's interest in the property is not inheritable in the traditional sense because of the right of survivorship that accompanies this form of ownership. When one joint tenant passes away, their interest in the property automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenants, rather than being passed down to heirs or beneficiaries through a will or estate process. This automatic transfer emphasizes the nature of joint tenancy as a collective form of ownership, where all tenants share equal rights to the property and any benefits (like ownership) do not pass to the deceased's heirs. This characteristic of joint tenancy sets it apart from other forms of ownership, such as severalty or tenants in common, where interests can indeed be inherited according to an individual's estate plan or laws governing intestacy.

In joint tenancy, an individual's interest in the property is not inheritable in the traditional sense because of the right of survivorship that accompanies this form of ownership. When one joint tenant passes away, their interest in the property automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenants, rather than being passed down to heirs or beneficiaries through a will or estate process. This automatic transfer emphasizes the nature of joint tenancy as a collective form of ownership, where all tenants share equal rights to the property and any benefits (like ownership) do not pass to the deceased's heirs.

This characteristic of joint tenancy sets it apart from other forms of ownership, such as severalty or tenants in common, where interests can indeed be inherited according to an individual's estate plan or laws governing intestacy.