Joint tenancy is a form of ownership of real property (house, land, etc.) by two people where upon the death of one joint tenant the surviving joint tenant inherits the entire property. It does not matter if there is a will or trust, as long as one joint tenant survives the other joint tenant, the property goes to the surviving joint tenant. Tenants-in-common is a form of ownership of real property by two people where upon the death of one owner that owner’s share of the property passes to his or her beneficiaries as named in their estate planning documents (or by intestate succession if no will or trust) and not to the other co-owner.
