Should I put all of my assets in joint tenancy?
The answer is No! There are times when titling a particular item of property in joint tenancy makes sense. However, putting all your assets in this, especially without proper planning, can be disastrous. Your joint tenant isn’t just a signer, he or she owns an undivided one-half (½) of your assets.
Nothing prevents a joint tenant from clearing out all of your bank account; and nothing prevents a creditor of your joint tenant from executing judgments against your joint tenant’s interest in your property.
Putting your assets in this will not protect them from Medicaid and certainly won’t solve your estate planning issues. If your will says “leave everything to my daughter,” but your assets are in joint tenancy (with right of survivorship) with your son, then your son will take everything when you die; not your daughter.
Answered by:
John J. Campbell, Esq., CELA
Law Offices of John J. Campbell, P.C.
Denver, Colorado