Patricia and Robert, a married couple in Evansville, Indiana, purchase a home and take title as joint tenants with right of survivorship — not as tenants by the entirety. Patricia later dies intestate (without a will). What happens to Patricia's interest in the property?
Correct Answer
B) Patricia's interest automatically passes to Robert by right of survivorship
When property is held in joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the death of one joint tenant causes that tenant's interest to automatically vest in the surviving joint tenant(s) by operation of law — regardless of whether the deceased had a will or died intestate. Robert automatically becomes the sole owner of the property upon Patricia's death. The survivorship feature supersedes intestate succession laws for jointly held property.
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