What does the right of survivorship entail for jointly owned property?

The right of survivorship pertains to how property ownership is handled among co-owners, particularly when one of the joint owners passes away. This legal concept ensures that upon the death of one owner, their interest in the property automatically transfers to the surviving owner(s) rather than being passed on according to a will or through probate.

This automatic transfer helps to eliminate the probate process, which can be time-consuming and costly, as it allows the surviving co-owner to retain full ownership of the property without needing to go through legal channels to establish their right to it. This can lead to a more straightforward management of the property and immediate control for the surviving owner, thus streamlining the transition of ownership and avoiding delays or complications that arise in the probate system.

In contrast, the other options relate to different aspects of property ownership or inheritance. Distributing property through a will, for example, indicates a planned transfer rather than an automatic one, which the right of survivorship explicitly negates. Similarly, property division among heirs pertains to separate ownership arrangements where multiple individuals inherit a property, which is not consistent with the principles of joint tenancy where survivorship is guaranteed. Lastly, requiring joint decision-making speaks to the operational governance of jointly held property but does not address the