Joint tenancy is a form of co-ownership in the owners each have an equal stake in the property itself (i.e. 2 owners will each own 50% of the property), and also the equal right to inherit the entire property in the event of the death of the other co-owner., (a) Except as otherwise provided by an instrument that creates a joint tenancy or by law, if, before death, a decedent had an absolute interest in property as a joint tenant, the value of the interest in the property that passes from the decedent is determined by dividing the value of the entire property by the number of joint tenants , Where there is no sufficient evidence that two joint tenants or tenants by the entirety have died other than simultaneously, the property held shall be distributed one half as if one had survived and one half as if the other had survived., Tenants by the Entirety: This form of real estate ownership exists between a married couple. When one spouse dies, the other takes title as the survivor. Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship: A similar form of ownership, title also passes to a surviving co-owner upon the death of another., Transfer of Property Upon Death For property held in a joint tenancy with right of survivorship, the transfer to the surviving owner is automatic and immediate upon the death of the other owner. This process avoids probate, the court-supervised procedure for distributing a deceased person’s assets., Joint tenancy in Maryland confers specific rights and responsibilities upon co-owners, particularly emphasizing the right of survivorship. This right ensures that upon the death of one joint tenant, their interest automatically passes to the surviving tenants, bypassing probate..