What distinguishes a joint tenancy from a tenancy in common?

The concept of joint tenancy is specifically characterized by the presence of a right of survivorship, which allows the surviving joint tenant(s) to automatically inherit the deceased tenant's share of the property, rather than passing it on to their heirs. This feature is a key distinction from tenancy in common, where each co-owner has an individual share of the property, and their respective interests can be passed to their heirs upon death.

In a joint tenancy, all tenants must acquire their interest at the same time, hold equal shares, and have equal rights to the property. This ensures that if one joint tenant dies, their interest is not transferred to an heir but instead automatically goes to the surviving joint tenants, maintaining the equal and undivided ownership among them.

In contrast, tenancy in common allows for unequal ownership shares, with each tenant having the freedom to transfer their interest to heirs or third parties, creating a fundamentally different approach to property rights. This clarity in rights and ownership is why the answer focusing on equal and undivided interest with right of survivorship correctly identifies what distinguishes joint tenancy from tenancy in common.