An undivided interest by both husband and wife, with the right to the entire property passing to the surviving spouse upon the death of one spouse.  Tenants by the entirety provides some protection from individual creditors and is the presumed tenancy for married couples.

Protections example:  Andy and Beth are a married couple.  Andy gets a personal loan for $10,000 from Joe and doesn’t pay it back.  Joe can’t put a lien on the house because Beth didn’t sign for the loan as well.

An equal ownership interest by all parties named on the deed with rights of ownership vesting in the survivor of all owners.

In MD there is a presumption against Joint Tenancy, therefore it must be stated clearly “Joint Tenants with Rights of Survivorship” in addition to the clear statement there must be: Unity of Time (interests of all co-tenants must vest at the same time, Unity of Title (interest must be acquired through same Deed), Unity of Interest (Must have equal Interests), Possession (Must have equal and Concurrent rights to the Property).

Example:  Andy, Beth, and Charles own Black Acre one-third (1/3) each.  If Beth dies, Andy and Charles will each own one-half (1/2) of Black Acre.

An individual ownership interest in a portion of the property (either equal or unequal) with another party and sharing a common interest and right to use as to the whole.  Tenants in Common DOES NOT PROVIDE for survivorship rights.  Thus, a will is recommended to identify the recipient of the ownership interest upon the death of one of the owners.  In Maryland Title is presumed to be held Tenants in Common unless stated otherwise or a couple is married.

Example 1:   Andy, Beth, and Charles own Black Acre.  Beth owns seventy percent (70%), Andy owns twenty percent (20%), and Charles owns ten percent (10%).  Charles dies.  Charles has a will that states that his interest should pass to his mother, Charlene.  Charlene now owns a ten percent (10%) interest in Black Acre.  If Charles dies without a will, his interest will pass according to the laws of the State of Maryland.

Example 2:  Andy and Beth are married but own Black Acre with Charles.  Andy and Beth own a sixty percent (60%) interest in Black Acre, which they hold as Tenants by the Entirety.  Charles owns a forty percent (40%) interest in Black Acre.  As between Charles and the unit made up of Andy and Beth, the parties own Black Acre as Tenants in Common, forty percent (40%) to Charles, and sixty percent (60%) to Andy and Beth jointly.