What is typically the maximum number of owners in a joint tenancy arrangement?

In a joint tenancy arrangement, there is typically no strict legal limit on the number of owners, as joint tenancy can technically include any number of co-owners. However, in practice and for various operational reasons, it is often seen with up to four owners.

The defining characteristic of joint tenancy is the "right of survivorship," which means that when one owner passes away, their share automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenants. This simple transfer mechanism can become complex with a larger number of owners, making it less common for joint tenancies to have more than four owners.

In many states, including California, joint tenancies are frequently formed with two to four owners due to practical considerations regarding managing shared property and the implications of the rights of survivorship. Therefore, while the concept allows for more than four owners, the assumption and practical application within typical scenarios often lead to four being the upper limit recognized in many discussions regarding joint tenancies.