1. Three joint tenants own a property. One dies leaving a will that gives her share to her son. The son receives:
Answer & explanation
Answer: A. Survivorship operates outside the will; the deceased's interest goes to the surviving joint tenants.
property
will
A will is a legal document in which a person, the testator, directs how their property will be distributed after death. A gift of real property by will is a devise, and a gift of personal property is a bequest. A will takes effect only at death and must usually go through probate. Requirements for a valid will, such as witnesses or a handwritten form, vary by state. Transfer by will is a form of voluntary alienation.
- Exam tip
- Devise means real property, bequest means personal property. A person who dies with a will is testate; without one, intestate.
- Example
- A grandmother's will leaves her lake house to her granddaughter, a devise that passes through probate after her death.
Related terms & state variants
Sources
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Last verified: 2026-10-23