What ownership form allows automatic transfer of ownership upon death?

The ownership form that allows automatic transfer of ownership upon death is joint tenancy. In a joint tenancy arrangement, two or more individuals hold title to a property together with equal rights. A key feature of this ownership type is the right of survivorship, which means that when one joint tenant passes away, their share of the property automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenants. This process bypasses the probate process, enabling a quicker and more straightforward transfer of ownership.

Other forms of ownership, such as tenancy by the entirety and tenants in common, do not provide the same automatic transfer benefits. While tenancy by the entirety also includes a right of survivorship, it is specifically designed for married couples. On the other hand, tenants in common do not have the right of survivorship; instead, when a tenant in common dies, their share of the property goes to their heirs according to their will or state inheritance laws rather than automatically passing to the other tenants. Severalty refers to individual ownership and does not imply any right of survivorship. Thus, joint tenancy is the most applicable option regarding automatic transfer of ownership upon death.