This document discusses the three types of title holdings that exist in Illinois: joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety, and tenants in common. Joint tenancy allows multiple people to take title to the same property at the same time, with each owner's share passing to the remaining owners upon their death. Tenancy by the entirety can only be established for married couples and involves preventing one spouse's share from being seized if they have judgments against them. Tenants in common also allows multiple people to hold title but does not automatically transfer an owner's share to the others upon death, instead passing it to their heirs.

1. THREETYPES OF
TITLE HOLDINGS IN
ILLINOIS
Cynthia Miller

2. Introduction
• For more than 20 years, Cynthia Miller has been working as a private
practice attorney in Hinsdale, IL. In this capacity, Cynthia Ann Miller of
Hinsdale, IL, represents buyers and sellers of commercial and
residential real estate who are involved in a range of disputes and real
estate matters, such as quiet title actions, leases, and boundary
disputes.
In the state of Illinois, ownership of real estate is conveyed via a title.
This title can take on several forms depending on the implications of
ownership transfer. Below are a three types of titles seen in the state:
Joint tenancy
When multiple people take the title of the same property at the same
time, they create a joint tenancy. With this type of title, each owner
controls part of the parcel and, upon their death, that share is given to
the remaining owner(s). Joint tenancies most often involve married
couples and can only be created properly if certain language noting the
joint tenancy is included in the property’s deed.

3. Title Holdings
• Tenancy by the entirety
Similar to joint tenancy, tenancy by the entirety can only be
created when special language is included in the deed. Once set up,
this type of title holding is only available to married couples and
those who have a civil union. Its purpose is to prevent a couple’s
home from being seized if one person in the couple has a judgment
or lien against them.
Tenants in common
Similar to joint tenancy, tenants in common titles allow a property
to be held by multiple names. However, ownership of one person’s
share is not given to other owners upon their death. Instead, it is
transferred to said owner’s heirs. If the owner wants, they can also
pass on their portion of the property to other parties or dispose of
their share at will.