What happens to a joint tenant's interest upon their death?

In joint tenancy, a unique feature is the right of survivorship, which means that when one joint tenant dies, their interest does not get divided among the remaining joint tenants, nor does it pass to heirs. Instead, the deceased joint tenant's share is automatically transferred to the surviving joint tenants. This ensures that the property remains within the group of surviving owners without any need for probate proceedings.

While the other options suggest potential outcomes for the deceased tenant's interest, they do not align with the principles of joint tenancy. For instance, the interest is not divided or extinguished in a way that leaves the property without ownership; rather, it effectively consolidates the ownership among the surviving joint tenants. This principle highlights the secure nature of joint tenancy as a form of ownership in real estate. Thus, upon the death of a joint tenant, the correct effect is that their interest is not passed on to heirs or divided but instead merged with the interests of the remaining joint tenants.