Article: Breaking up isn't hard to do with joint tenancy

Q. My ex-wife and I own a home in joint tenancy and I would like to have it changed to tenancy-in-common. I want to make sure that if I die first, our children will get my share. Do I need her consent to do so, and would it be necessary to consult a lawyer?

A. I am assuming that your divorce decree provides that your ex-wife remain in possession of the house and that upon its sale, the equity will be divided, giving credit for the increasing equity resulting from mortgage payments to the one who has been making the payments.

Unless there is some provision in the decree prohibiting you from making any kind of transfer of title, you can break the joint tenancy quite easily and without ...

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