In a joint tenancy, if Skipper sells her interest to Midge before Ken's passing, how is the property interest divided after Ken's death?

• A. All goes to Midge
• B. Ken's estate receives half
• C. Barbie owns two-thirds, and Midge owns one-third
• D. All equally split among the owners

Answer: (C)

In a joint tenancy, there is a right of survivorship: when a co‑owner dies, the deceased’s interest passes to the surviving co‑owners, not to the deceased’s heirs. If Skipper sells her interest to Midge before Ken dies, the property is then held by Barbie, Ken, and Midge as joint tenants with equal, undivided interests (one share each). When Ken dies, his one-third interest doesn’t go to his estate; it passes to the surviving joint tenants. The two remaining joint tenants share Ken’s interest, which increases their overall ownership. Because Barbie and Midge were already equal co‑owners, Ken’s one-third is allocated to them in a way that leaves Barbie with a larger remaining stake and Midge with the smaller one, resulting in Barbie holding two-thirds of the property and Midge one-third.