How does joint tenancy with right of survivorship work in Colorado?
In Colorado, a conveyance of real property to two or more people creates a tenancy in common unless the deed declares that the property is conveyed in joint tenancy or to them as joint tenants. The abbreviation "JTWROS" and the phrases "as joint tenants with right of survivorship" and "in joint tenancy with right of survivorship" mean the same as "in joint tenancy", and a grantor may also be one of the grantees. Colorado does not allow tenancy by the entirety: no conveyance of Colorado real property creates one, and a deed that purports to create one creates a joint tenancy instead (a deed executed before July 1, 2006 is presumed to). Subject to limited exceptions, a joint tenant may sever the joint tenancy by recording a deed of his or her interest to himself or herself as a tenant in common. The words in the deed decide which kind of ownership was created, so read the deed itself. This is C.R.S. §§ 38-31-101, 38-31-201.
| What | Colorado |
|---|---|
| A deed to two or more people | Tenancy in common unless the deed says joint tenancy |
| What it means | Tenancy in common unless the deed declares survivorship |
Source
C.R.S. §§ 38-31-101, 38-31-201
Read the statute in the Colorado Revised Statutes (Colorado General Assembly): leg.colorado.gov.
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
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