If own a house as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, if one joint tenant dies will the surviving partner have to pay inheritance taxes?
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If own a house as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, if one joint tenant dies will the surviving partner have to pay inheritance taxes?
Unmarried couple.
Asked on May 1, 2011 under Estate Planning, Florida
Answers:
M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 13 years ago | Contributor
Generally speaking, when parties obtainproperty through rights of survivorship they avoid inheritance tax. That is because you are really not "inheriting" property from another party. The property passes to you by operation of law, meaning it does not pass through an estate of the decedent. It passes outside the estate. Only property that passes through an estate is subject to inheritance tax. It is true that generally property with rights of survivorship is held between married couples but siblings often hold it that way as do many other types of people who plan well. If you need to do any estate planning then you need to speak with someone in your area. Good luck.
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