Forms of Ownership, Transfer, and Recording of Title

Ownership by one person or one legal entity alone; the title is severed from others.

Each co-owner has a right to possess and use the entire property rather than a specific physical portion, even if shares are unequal.

Each co-tenant holds an undivided interest, shares may be unequal, each may sell or mortgage their share without consent, and there is no right of survivorship.

It passes to the owner's heirs or devisees through the will or intestate succession, not to the other co-owners.

Tenancy in common is usually presumed; state rules vary, and some states apply different presumptions for married couples.

Co-ownership with equal, undivided interests and a right of survivorship, so a deceased joint tenant's interest passes automatically to the surviving joint tenants.