Final answer:
Joint tenancy with right of survivorship is a form of property ownership by married couples in some states, featuring automatic survivorship rights to avoid probate.
Step-by-step explanation:
“Joint tenancy with right of survivorship” is the form of ownership used by married couples in certain states. It includes automatic survivorship rights, ensuring that upon the death of one spouse, the deceased's share of the property instantly passes to the surviving spouse. This ownership structure provides a means for couples to manage their property without the need for probate proceedings.
Joint tenancy is distinct from tenancy in common, where co-owners do not have survivorship rights, and each owner's interest can be passed on to their heirs or designated beneficiaries. Historically, the progression of women's property rights evolved over time, looking back as far as the Han dynastic practices and western territories in the late 19th century, leading up to more modern legal frameworks that embrace equitable rights and ownership within marriages.