How does joint tenancy with right of survivorship work in Michigan?
In Michigan, a deed to two or more people creates a tenancy in common unless it expressly declares a joint tenancy. The tenancy-in-common rule does not apply to mortgages, to grants in trust or to executors, or to grants to a husband and wife. Michigan law recognizes a husband and wife owning land as tenants by the entirety, and either spouse can end that tenancy by conveying their interest to the other. The words in the deed decide which kind of ownership was created, so read the deed itself. This is MCL 554.44, 554.45, 557.101.
| What | Michigan |
|---|---|
| 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
Read the statute in the Michigan Compiled Laws (Michigan Legislature): legislature.mi.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
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- District of Columbia
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii