What can a joint tenant not do with their share of ownership?

In a joint tenancy, one of the defining characteristics is the right of survivorship, which means that upon the death of one joint tenant, their share of the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenants rather than being transferred through a will. This aspect of joint tenancy effectively prevents a joint tenant from bequeathing their share to heirs, as their interest in the property does not go through the probate process like individual ownership.

Therefore, a joint tenant cannot will their share to their heirs because the share automatically goes to the surviving joint tenants. This feature highlights the nature of joint tenancy as a form of ownership where the emphasis is on collective ownership and the automatic transfer of shares upon death, rather than individual control over the distribution of the property through a will.

The other options allow for certain actions that a joint tenant can take regarding their share. For instance, a joint tenant can transfer their share to another owner, sell their interest in the property, or encumber their share with a mortgage; however, these actions may complicate the joint tenancy and could potentially convert it to a different form of ownership.