When there is 2 names on a deed and the words “or survivor”, does this mean the survivor now also own all of the contents in the house?

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When there is 2 names on a deed and the words “or survivor”, does this mean the survivor now also own all of the contents in the house?

Asked on January 1, 2012 under Estate Planning, Ohio

Answers:

M.T.G., Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 12 years ago | Contributor

I urge you to bring the deed in question to an attorney to review.  I believe that the deed here has a survivorship portion attached to the joint tenancy but it generally states "with rights of survivorship."  So the "or survivor" throws me a little.  Generally speaking, if there are two joint tenants, and one dies, the other becomes sole owner of the interest that the two of them had previously held jointly.  So if the content of the house were held jointly - like as a husband and wife - then pass to the other.  But if the parties were not married and had assets that were held separately - but for the house - then I would assume that the contents did not pass with the house.  Again, the facts here are important and they need to be understood in conjunction with reading the deed.  Good luck.


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