Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS)

Joint tenants with right of survivorship (JTWROS) is a form of ownership in which two or more people own property together. When one of the joint tenants dies, their share of the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s). This means that there is no need for probate, which can be a time-consuming and expensive process.

There are several advantages to owning property in JTWROS. First, it can provide a sense of security for both joint tenants. If one of them dies, the other will still have ownership of the property. This can be especially important for couples who want to make sure that their loved one is taken care of if something happens to them.

Second, JTWROS can make it easier to manage property. If one of the joint tenants is unable to make decisions about the property, the other joint tenant can step in and take care of things. This can be helpful if one of the joint tenants becomes ill or incapacitated.

Third, JTWROS can save on taxes. When one of the joint tenants dies, their share of the property is not subject to estate taxes. This can be a significant savings, especially for estates that are worth a lot of money.

There are also some disadvantages to owning property in JTWROS. First, if one of the joint tenants owes debts, those debts can be collected from the property, even if the other joint tenant is not responsible for them. This is known as "forced heirship."

Second, if one of the joint tenants wants to sell the property, they may need the consent of the other joint tenant(s). This can make it difficult to sell the property quickly if necessary.

Third, if one of the joint tenants divorces their spouse, the spouse may be entitled to a share of the property, even if they were not a joint tenant.

Overall, JTWROS can be a good option for couples or other people who want to own property together. However, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of this type of ownership before making a decision.