Legal Definitions - Tenancy by the entireties

Definition: Tenancy by the entireties is a type of joint ownership of property that is only available to married couples. In this type of ownership, both spouses have an equal and undivided interest in the property. If one spouse dies, the surviving spouse automatically becomes the sole owner of the property.

Example: John and Jane are married and own a house together as tenants by the entireties. If John were to pass away, Jane would automatically become the sole owner of the house, without the need for probate or any other legal process.

Explanation: This example illustrates how tenancy by the entireties works. Because John and Jane are married and own the property together in this way, if one of them were to pass away, the other would automatically become the sole owner of the property. This can be a useful way for married couples to ensure that their property passes to the surviving spouse without the need for additional legal steps.