Marcus and Elena, an unmarried couple, purchase a home in Denver and take title as joint tenants. Marcus later dies without a will. What happens to his ownership interest in the property under Colorado law?
Correct Answer
A) His interest passes automatically to Elena through the right of survivorship
In a joint tenancy, the right of survivorship is the defining feature. When a joint tenant dies, their interest automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s) by operation of law — not through the deceased's estate or will. Because Marcus and Elena held title as joint tenants, Elena automatically receives Marcus's full interest upon his death, regardless of whether he had a will.
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Related Topics & Key Terms
Key Terms:
Related Concepts
A freehold estate conveys ownership rights, while a leasehold estate grants the right to possess and use property for a specific period without ownership.
Riparian rights concern properties bordering flowing bodies of water (rivers, streams), while littoral rights concern properties bordering non-flowing bodies of water (lakes, oceans).
The bundle of rights describes the rights associated with property ownership, allowing owners to use, control, enjoy, exclude others from, and dispose of the property.
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