Property Rights & Ownership

    Joint Tenancy

    Co-ownership with the right of survivorship that requires the four unities of time, title, interest, and possession.

    Joint tenancy is co-ownership in which each owner holds an equal, undivided interest and the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, that share passes automatically to the surviving joint tenants, not to the deceased owner's heirs.

    Creating a joint tenancy requires the four unities, often remembered as TTIP: Time (all owners take title at the same time), Title (through the same document), Interest (equal shares), and Possession (equal right to the whole property).

    On the exam

    The defining feature is survivorship. If a co-owner's share must pass to surviving co-owners rather than heirs, suspect joint tenancy. In Texas, survivorship between joint owners requires a written agreement.

    Exam trap

    In Texas there is no automatic survivorship between joint owners. The owners must sign a written survivorship agreement, or the share passes to heirs as a tenancy in common.

    Tested in

    Ownership & Title (8% of the exam)

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    This definition is Texas real estate exam-prep education, not legal, tax, or professional advice. Verify current rules against the official source before relying on them for a real transaction. Back to the full glossary.