What is implied by the term “right of survivorship”?

The term "right of survivorship" indicates that when a joint tenant dies, their ownership interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants. This mechanism means that the remaining owners do not have to go through probate to secure full ownership of the property; the deceased's share is seamlessly transferred to the other joint tenants.

This arrangement is specifically designed to avoid complications related to inheritance and the potential involvement of heirs or the probate process, allowing for a straightforward continuation of ownership among surviving co-owners. In many cases, this is particularly favored in joint tenancy situations, where co-owners are often related or closely associated with each other.

The other options describe scenarios that do not align with the nature of joint tenancy. For example, automatically selling property upon death does not occur under a right of survivorship arrangement, and heirship or state reversion would be relevant in different forms of ownership, such as tenancy in common, where the deceased’s share could be subject to probate. Therefore, the right of survivorship fundamentally simplifies the transition of property ownership upon the death of a joint tenant by ensuring that the surviving tenants retain full control without the need for external legal intervention.