In joint tenancy, what happens if one of the owners dies?

In joint tenancy, when one of the owners dies, the key principle that applies is the right of survivorship. This means that the deceased owner's share does not go to their heirs or beneficiaries; instead, it is automatically transferred to the remaining owners. This process ensures that the property remains within the group of current owners without the need for probate or additional legal proceedings.

The concept of joint tenancy is characterized by four essential unities: possession, interest, time, and title. This type of ownership creates a direct legal relationship among the joint tenants, allowing them to inherit each other's shares directly upon death. This automatic transfer of interest reinforces the idea that all joint tenants have equal rights to the property during their lifetimes, and upon death, the remaining owners fully retain ownership without needing to divide the interests or address the deceased's estate.

The other options don't accurately reflect the principle of joint tenancy. For example, dividing the deceased's share among the remaining owners or forfeiting the deceased's rights completely fails to recognize the right of survivorship that defines joint tenancy. Additionally, selling the property and dividing proceeds contradicts the nature of joint tenancy, where ownership and control are retained by the living joint tenants rather than dissolving the joint ownership upon death.