JOINTLY OWNED PROPERTY

If you and your co-owner own property as joint tenants and one of you should die, the deceased's share will pass automatically to the survivor regardless of what is in the deceased's Will.

If you do not have a Will, the property you own as joint tenants will pass automatically to the surviving joint owner.

If this is not what you wish, you will need to "sever" the joint tenancy, so that you own it as tenants in common (see below) or transfer assets into your sole name.

If you and your co-owner own property as tenants in common and one of you should die, the deceased's share will pass in accordance with his or her Will or, if he or she has not made a Will, under the intestacy rules.

If you do not wish such property to pass according to the intestacy rules, you must make a Will to ensure that it passes to the person you wish to benefit.

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