Which type of ownership describes real estate owned by only one person?

Which type of ownership describes real estate owned by only one person?

• A. Joint Tenancy
• B. Tenancy by the Entirety
• C. Tenancy in Severalty
• D. Tenancy in Common

Answer: (C)

Tenancy in severalty means the real estate is owned by a single person or entity. There is no co-owner and no right of survivorship, so the sole owner has complete control to sell, mortgage, or transfer the property. If that owner dies, the property passes according to their will or through laws of intestacy, not to co-owners automatically. This differs from joint tenancy (two or more owners with a survivorship right), tenancy by the entirety (co-ownership between married couples with survivorship), and tenancy in common (two or more owners with undivided interest and no right of survivorship). So, sole ownership is described by tenancy in severalty.

Tenancy in severalty means the real estate is owned by a single person or entity. There is no co-owner and no right of survivorship, so the sole owner has complete control to sell, mortgage, or transfer the property. If that owner dies, the property passes according to their will or through laws of intestacy, not to co-owners automatically. This differs from joint tenancy (two or more owners with a survivorship right), tenancy by the entirety (co-ownership between married couples with survivorship), and tenancy in common (two or more owners with undivided interest and no right of survivorship). So, sole ownership is described by tenancy in severalty.