North Carolina General Statutes 41-71. Creation of a joint tenancy with right of survivorship
Terms Used In North Carolina General Statutes 41-71
- following: when used by way of reference to any section of a statute, shall be construed to mean the section next preceding or next following that in which such reference is made; unless when some other section is expressly designated in such reference. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Joint tenancy: A form of property ownership in which two or more parties hold an undivided interest in the same property that was conveyed under the same instrument at the same time. A joint tenant can sell his (her) interest but not dispose of it by will. Upon the death of a joint tenant, his (her) undivided interest is distributed among the surviving joint tenants.
- property: shall include all property, both real and personal. See North Carolina General Statutes 12-3
- Right of survivorship: The ownership rights that result in the acquisition of title to property by reason of having survived other co-owners.
- Tenancy by the entirety: A type of joint tenancy between husband and wife that is recognized in some States. Neither party can sever the joint tenancy relationship; when a spouse dies, the survivor acquires full title to the property.
- Tenancy in common: A type of property ownership in which two or more individuals have an undivided interest in property. At the death of one tenant in common, his (her) fractional percentage of ownership in the property passes to the decedent
(a) A conveyance to two or more persons creates a tenancy in common unless a joint tenancy with right of survivorship is created as provided in subsection (b) of this section or a tenancy by the entirety is created as provided by the law governing tenancy by the entireties.
(b) A conveyance to two or more persons creates a joint tenancy with right of survivorship if the instrument expresses an intent to create a joint tenancy with right of survivorship. The following words in the instrument shall be deemed to express an intent to create a joint tenancy with right of survivorship unless the instrument otherwise provides: “joint tenants with right of survivorship,” “joint tenants,” “joint tenancy,” “tenants in common with right of survivorship,” “joint with right of survivorship,” “with right of survivorship.”
(c) Nothing in this Article prohibits joint tenants from entering into any agreement with regard to the property held in joint tenancy, including, without limitation, an agreement that notice must be given to other joint tenants before any joint tenant terminates the joint tenancy as provided in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 41-73(b). (2020-50, s. 2(a), (c).)