Definition
“Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship” (JTWROS) is a type of brokerage account held by at least two individuals, where all tenants have an equal right to the account’s assets. In this situation, the surviving tenant or tenants automatically gain ownership of a deceased tenant’s share. It’s commonly used by married couples, relatives or business partners in certain industries.
Phonetic
The phonetics of “Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS)” would be:Joint – /dʒɔɪnt/Tenants – /ˈtɛnənts/with – /wɪð/Right – /raɪt/of – /əv/Survivorship – /sʌrˈvaɪvərʃɪp/JTWROS – /dʒeɪ tiː dʌbljuː ɑr oʊ ɛs/
Key Takeaways
- Unified Ownership: In a JTWROS, all parties have an equal ownership interest in the property. This means that no matter how many joint tenants there are, each person owns an undivided share of the entire property. They cannot own different percentages of the property.
- Right of Survivorship: The main feature of a JTWROS agreement is the right of survivorship. Upon the death of one tenant, the property passes automatically to the surviving tenant(s) rather than getting tied up in a lengthy probate process. This automatic transfer of ownership sidesteps the typical process of passing on assets and belongings through a will.
- Severance of Joint Tenancy: A Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship can typically be severed or broken by any of the co-owners. This is done by one co-owner transferring or selling his or her interest to another person, without the need for consent or agreement from any of the other co-owners. Such a move usually converts a JTWROS to a tenancy in common, another form of property ownership.
Importance
The term Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) is essential in business and finance because it denotes a specific type of asset ownership between two or more individuals. In a JTWROS agreement, if one tenant passes away, their portion of the asset is automatically redistributed among the surviving tenants, rather than being passed onto heirs or being dictated by a will. This arrangement comes with a significant tax advantage because the asset’s value doesn’t have to go through probate and its transfer doesn’t incur inheritance tax. The ownership structure originated as a way to ensure a smooth transition of property ownership and sidestep the often long and costly probate process, proving particularly useful for real estate and joint bank or investment accounts.
Explanation
The primary purpose of ‘Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship’ (JTWROS) in finance and business is to ensure the seamless transition of ownership of a shared property or asset to the surviving owners in the unfortunate event of a tenant’s death. Essentially, it allows the asset or property to bypass the probate process and head straight into the co-owner’s possession. This method of asset ownership is used quite frequently in the realm of real estate, financial accounts such as savings and brokerage accounts, and other valuable assets. More critically, it allows a smooth transfer of wealth, providing financial protection for the deceased’s survivors.
Having a JTWROS arrangement can be advantageous for business partners, spouses, or close relatives who share a significant asset. For example, if two people own a property jointly with right of survivorship, and one passes away, the surviving tenant will legally own the entire property, irrespective of any contrary specification in the will of the deceased. This agreement spares the surviving party from dealing with probate courts, thus saving them considerable time and legal fees often associated with the inheritance process. In the context of business partnerships, clarifying the future path of the business in the event of a co-owner’s sudden demise can be a critical aspect of long-term planning.
Examples
1. Married Couples Owning a House: One of the most common real-world examples of Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) involves married couples who own their main residence together. If the husband and wife are joint tenants of their property, when one spouse dies, the surviving spouse becomes the full owner of the property, regardless of the decedent’s will.
2. Investment Accounts: Two business partners might open an investment account as JTWROS. For instance, in the event one partner dies, the surviving partner would automatically gain control of the deceased partner’s share, regardless of any provisions in their estate plans. This is a common approach in small business when two partners exclusively operate and own the business.
3. Parents and Adult Children: Sometimes, elderly parents might want to add an adult child as a joint owner on their bank accounts or property titles with JTWROS provisions. This can be done with the intent to avoid probate, as ownership would be directly transferred to the surviving owner upon the parent’s death. However, this type of arrangement should be approached with caution, as it might expose the parents’ assets to the child’s creditors, and if the child passes away first, the property would not necessarily pass on to the parents’ other children.
Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)
What is Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS)?
Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS) is a type of co-ownership that gives each tenant equal ownership rights and privileges to a property or asset. Upon the death of one tenant, the surviving tenant(s) automatically inherit the deceased tenant’s share, regardless of what is stated in the deceased tenant’s will.
How does one become a JTWROS?
To become a JTWROS, all parties must agree to take ownership of the property at the same time, use the property at the same time, have their name on the title, and have equal rights to the property.
Can a JTWROS ownership be broken or changed?
Yes. If any of the joint tenants decides to sell his or her interest in the property, the JTWROS ownership can be broken. The new owner and the remaining original owners will then have a tenants-in-common ownership, not JTWROS.
Is there a specific advantage to holding a property under JTWROS?
JTWROS ownership enables the property distribution to happen smoothly when one co-owner passes away. The survivor automatically becomes the owner without the need for probate, which can be a lengthy legal process.
Can creditors claim against a property held as JTWROS?
In most cases, a creditor can go after a debtor’s ownership share in a JTWROS property. However, if one co-owner dies and their share moves to the other co-owners, the share is usually out of the reach of the deceased owner’s creditors.
What happens if one joint tenant wants to mortgage his interest?
For a JTWROS property, all joint tenants must agree to mortgage their property. If one tenant wants to mortgage his individual share, he must first break the JTWROS ownership.
Does JTWROS apply to all property types?
JTWROS typically applies to real property, such as homes and land, and personal property, such as bank accounts and stocks.
Related Finance Terms
- Survivorship: The right that allows surviving joint tenants to acquire the interest of a deceased joint tenant.
- Tenancy in Common: An alternative method of property ownership where each owner holds an individual, undivided interest in the property.
- Probate: A legal process that takes place after someone’s death, where their assets are identified, their debts and taxes are paid, and what remains is distributed to their heirs.
- Unity of Possession: A key requirement of a JTWROS, meaning all joint tenants have an equal right to occupy and use the entire property, regardless of their individual ownership percentage.
- Co-ownership: A legal term signaling the joint ownership of a property by two or more individuals.
