Which ownership form includes the right of survivorship among co-owners?

• A. Joint tenancy
• B. Tenants in common
• C. Tenancy by entirety
• D. Severalty

Answer: (A)

Survivorship is the key idea here: in a joint tenancy, co-owners hold one equal share that automatically shifts to the surviving owners when one owner dies. This happens because joint tenancy is built on the four unities of time, title, interest, and possession, which create a single, unified ownership. Since the deceased owner’s interest passes directly to the survivors, it doesn’t go through a will or to heirs. Tenants in common do not have survivorship—each owner can leave their share to someone else, and shares can be unequal. Tenancy by entirety also includes survivorship, but it applies specifically to married couples and carries its own set of restrictions and protections. Severalty is sole ownership by one person or entity, so there are no co-owners to pass interests to.