Legal Question in Wills and Trusts in California

In 2005 my parents added me on title to their residence as a joint tenant with right of survivorship. This past year they put the property into a trust. What ramifications does that have relative to the 2005 grant deed? Did is break the joint tenancy and grant me 33%? or do I still have survivorship of 100% when they die. THe trust is basic and makes no specific mention regarding any of their properties. Simply Me and my brother will be trustees and beneficiaries after my parents pass away.


Asked on 2/16/11, 11:23 am

3 Answers from Attorneys

Chris Johnson Christopher B. Johnson, Attorney at Law

There's a good chance that the deed to the trust severed the joint tenancy and put your parents' interest into their living trust, but you should have an attorney review the trust and the deeds to give you a definite answer. The law dealing with severance of joint tenancies is at California Civil Code section 683.2.

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Answered on 2/16/11, 11:42 am
Jonathan Reich De Castro, West, Chodorow, Glickfeld & Nass, Inc.

As Chris says, it is possible that the deed to the trust severed the joint tenancy, putting your parents share into their trust and leaving you with your one third share. Depending on what the documents say, it may well have ended your right of survivorship. There are a number of other arguments your brother could make as to why you should not, in effect, get two thirds of the property (your one third and half of the other two thirds). All of these depend on the specific facts of your situation and what the documents actually say.

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Answered on 2/16/11, 11:52 am
Anthony Roach Law Office of Anthony A. Roach

The conveyance by one or several of the joint tenants into trust severs the joint tenancy. You now have a tenancy in common.

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Answered on 2/17/11, 7:48 am


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