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

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

Answer: (A)

Tenants in common describes ownership where two or more people hold separate, identifiable shares in the same property, yet all have an undivided right to possess the whole property. Each co-owner can own a different percentage, and their interests can be transferred or bequeathed independently. Crucially, there is no right of survivorship—when a co-owner dies, their share passes to their heirs or as they dictate in a will, not to the other owners. This contrasts with joint tenancy, which includes a right of survivorship and typically requires equal interests and the same time of acquisition. Community property relates to a marital property regime and not to separate co-ownership among multiple people, and lineal descendants refers to direct descendants, not forms of ownership. Therefore, the term that fits two or more people who own separate but undivided interests in property is tenants in common.