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Property OwnershipForms_of_ownership_and_tenancyMEDIUM

A South Carolina real estate licensee is advising a buyer about the characteristics of tenancy in common. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of tenancy in common under South Carolina law?

Correct Answer

C) Upon the death of a co-tenant, that interest automatically passes to the surviving co-tenants

The automatic passing of a deceased co-tenant's interest to surviving co-tenants upon death — the right of survivorship — is NOT a characteristic of tenancy in common. This is the defining feature of joint tenancy, not tenancy in common. In a tenancy in common, when a co-tenant dies, that co-tenant's interest passes through their estate (by will or intestate succession) to their heirs or devisees, NOT automatically to the surviving co-tenants. This is one of the most important distinctions between joint tenancy and tenancy in common under South Carolina law.

Answer Options
A
Each co-tenant may hold a different percentage of undivided ownership interest
B
Each co-tenant has the right to possess and use the entire property
C
Upon the death of a co-tenant, that interest automatically passes to the surviving co-tenants
D
Each co-tenant may independently sell or mortgage their individual ownership interest

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Related Topics & Key Terms

Key Terms:

tenancy_in_commoncharacteristicsright_of_survivorshipco_ownershipreverse_question

Related Concepts

Fee simple absolute is the highest and most complete form of property ownership, giving the owner unrestricted rights to use, possess, enjoy, and dispose of the property. It is of unlimited duration and fully inheritable.

Community property is a system where property acquired during a marriage is owned equally by both spouses.

A freehold estate represents ownership of real property with an indefinite duration.

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