Minnesota allows two or more people to share ownership of real estate as joint tenants. Unlike tenants in common, who each own individual portions of the property, joint tenants share equal parts of the undivided whole property. As a result, if one joint tenant dies, his/her rights are distributed evenly amongst the surviving joint tenants. Note that joint tenancy property passes outside of probate, so it does not become part of the decedent's estate.

To complete the transfer of ownership rights, the surviving joint tenant or tenants should execute an affidavit of identity and survivorship, based on Minnesota Form 50.2.2. The affidavit references the recorded deed where the joint tenants gained the property rights, and also requires a certified copy of the decedent's death certificate. Record the affidavit and its supporting documents in the office responsible for maintaining property records for the county where the land is located.

After recording the affidavit, the deceased joint tenant no longer holds any property rights, but his/her name will still appear as an owner in the records. To actually remove that name, the remaining joint tenant(s) should execute a new deed listing all original joint tenants as grantors, but identifying the deceased individual and including a certified copy of the death certificate. Name only the surviving tenants as grantees. After filing the new deed, the property records should only show the remaining owners.

(Minnesota AOI Package includes form, guidelines, and completed example)

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