Property Rights & Ownership

Tenancy in Common

The default form of co-ownership in which each owner holds a separate, possibly unequal interest that passes to heirs, with no survivorship.

Quick flashcard

What does Tenancy in Common mean on the Texas real estate exam?

Answer: The default form of co-ownership in which each owner holds a separate, possibly unequal interest that passes to heirs, with no survivorship.

Read the explanation below, then return to the full flashcard deck and try it again from memory.

Tenancy in Common definition

Tenancy in common is co-ownership where each owner holds an undivided interest that can be unequal. There is no right of survivorship. When a tenant in common dies, that share passes to the owner's heirs or as directed by the owner's will, not to the other co-owners.

Tenancy in common is the default co-ownership form when two or more unmarried people take title without specifying survivorship.

Source basis

Definition checked against the official sources below on .

On the exam

If shares can be unequal and pass to heirs rather than co-owners, the answer is tenancy in common. Tenancy in common is the default for Texas co-owners without a survivorship agreement.

Exam trap

Tenancy in common has no survivorship. In Texas it is the default when co-owners do not sign a written survivorship agreement.

Tested in

Ownership & Title (9 of 80 National)

From definition to recall

See this term inside a real exam question.

Pass Texas gives you Texas-specific practice, diagnostics across the 14 exam areas, Trap Library, Math Coach, offline access, and one $59.99 purchase. No subscription. No copied exam questions.

Try 5 free questions

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.