If one joint tenant dies, what happens to the property?

In joint tenancy, a key feature is the right of survivorship, which means that when one joint tenant passes away, their interest in the property automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenant(s). This transfer does not require probate, allowing for a seamless transition of ownership.

When the surviving joint tenant becomes the full owner of the property, they acquire complete control and rights to the property without the deceased tenant's interest being divided among heirs or sold. This characteristic of joint tenancy provides a method for owners to ensure that their property is immediately transferred to their co-owner upon their death, circumventing lengthy probate processes.

The mechanism of joint tenancy reinforces the idea that ownership is not affected by the death of a co-tenant, as it specifically states that the share of the departing owner is absorbed by the remaining co-owners. Thus, the surviving joint tenant's newfound status as the sole owner highlights the simplicity and directness of joint tenancy ownership.