Massachusetts Real Estate License Practice Test

In joint tenancy, what happens to the interest of a deceased owner?

1. It is passed to their heirs

2. It dissolves the joint tenancy

3. It goes to the remaining owners

4. It is sold at auction

The correct answer is: It goes to the remaining owners

In joint tenancy, when one of the owners passes away, their interest in the property does not go to their heirs but instead automatically transfers to the remaining joint tenants. This is due to the right of survivorship, which is a defining characteristic of joint tenancy. The remaining owners retain complete control and ownership of the property, which can lead to a simplified process in the event of one owner's death, as it avoids the complexities of probate. Given this principle, the other options do not accurately reflect the nature of joint tenancy. For instance, the interest of the deceased owner does not dissolve the joint tenancy, nor does it get sold at auction; these outcomes would pertain to differing property ownership structures or legal circumstances that do not apply in this scenario.