How does joint tenancy with right of survivorship work in Alabama?
In Alabama, a joint tenant’s share passes to the joint tenant’s heirs instead of the other owners unless the instrument creating the tenancy states that it is with right of survivorship or uses other words showing that intention. The rule also covers a deed in which the owner conveys to himself or herself and one or more other people, when the deed clearly shows the intent to create survivorship. The words in the deed decide which kind of ownership was created, so read the deed itself. This is Ala. Code § 35-4-7.
| What | Alabama |
|---|---|
| A deed to two or more people | Survivorship only if the deed says so |
| What it means | Survivorship only where a written agreement says so |
Source
Ala. Code § 35-4-7
Read the statute in the Code of Alabama (Alabama Legislature): alison.legislature.state.al.us.
Checked against the statute on November 13, 2026.
This is a summary of a published statute, not legal advice. Rules change, local ordinances can add to them, and the terms of a specific lease may differ. Check the citation and speak to a lawyer before acting.
How Seayora uses this rule
An owner on Seayora keeps each property’s owners of record, its entity and its documents in one place, so who holds title and how is on file beside the leases and the books.
Guides on this rule
- Joint Tenancy and Transfer-on-Death Deeds by State — How each state reads a deed to two or more people, survivorship rules, and where a transfer-on-death deed is allowed by statute.
Compare this rule in every state
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The same question in other states
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho