Definition
Joint tenancy is a way for two or more people to co-own a property equally, with each owner holding an identical share and equal rights to the whole home. The defining feature is the right of survivorship, meaning that if one owner dies, their share automatically passes to the surviving owner or owners rather than through a will or probate. For a homeowner selling a house, joint tenancy usually means every joint tenant must agree to the sale and sign the closing documents, since no single owner can unilaterally transfer the whole property. If one owner wants to sell and the others don't, this can create real friction and sometimes leads to a legal dispute. Divorcing couples, siblings who inherited a home together, and unmarried partners often hold title this way. Knowing whether your property is held in joint tenancy tells you exactly whose cooperation you'll need to close a sale.
Example
Brothers Sam and Ray inherited their late aunt's house as joint tenants with right of survivorship, meaning they each owned an equal, undivided half of the property. When they decided to sell a few months later, both had to sign every document, from the listing agreement to the final deed, because neither brother could sell the property alone. They agreed in advance to split the net proceeds fifty-fifty, matching their equal ownership shares, and put that agreement in writing before listing to avoid any confusion later. When an offer came in, both brothers reviewed and approved it together, and the title company confirmed both signatures were present on every required document. The sale closed without issue once both signatures were collected on closing day, and each brother received his half of the proceeds by wire the same afternoon.