Which term is described as an ownership interest of two or more people who own separate but undivided interests in property?

Which term is described as an ownership interest of two or more people who own separate but undivided interests in property?

• A. Lineal descendants
• B. Tenants in common
• C. Community property
• D. Joint tenancy

Answer: (B)

The ownership arrangement described is tenancy in common. In this setup two or more people hold separate but undivided interests in the same property. “Separate” means each owner has a distinct fractional share, which can be unequal and individually transferable or encumbered. “Undivided” means they each own a portion of the whole property together, not a physically fenced-off piece. Importantly, there is no right of survivorship in tenancy in common—when one owner dies, their share becomes part of their estate and passes to their heirs or devisees, not automatically to the other co-owners. This differs from joint tenancy, which includes the right of survivorship and requires certain unities (time, title, interest, possession). Community property is a special form of ownership for married couples in certain states, and lineal descendants refer to people in a family line, not a specific form of co-ownership.

The ownership arrangement described is tenancy in common. In this setup two or more people hold separate but undivided interests in the same property. “Separate” means each owner has a distinct fractional share, which can be unequal and individually transferable or encumbered. “Undivided” means they each own a portion of the whole property together, not a physically fenced-off piece. Importantly, there is no right of survivorship in tenancy in common—when one owner dies, their share becomes part of their estate and passes to their heirs or devisees, not automatically to the other co-owners.

This differs from joint tenancy, which includes the right of survivorship and requires certain unities (time, title, interest, possession). Community property is a special form of ownership for married couples in certain states, and lineal descendants refer to people in a family line, not a specific form of co-ownership.