An Option Overlooked

Robert J. Bruss answered a query in his May 3 Real Estate Q&A; column by responding to the specific question but not the general intent of the questioner.

A father wrote that his daughter was a joint tenant on his home, with right of survivorship, and he wanted to remove her name, which he can’t do. But what he really wanted was to equalize the inheritance of his son and daughter, rather than have her get the whole property on his death.

The father can easily do this by having a deed to the property prepared in which he deeds his interest in joint tenancy to himself as a tenant in common. He has it notarized and recorded with the county recorder’s office.

This has the practical effect of taking his half of the house out of joint tenancy so he can pass his half-interest to his son in his will.

Yes, he can’t unilaterally take his daughter’s name off the deed, but he can make certain his son eventually receives the other half.

MUNCIE D. MARDER

Tarzana

The writer is an attorney.