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The Daily Insight Hub

What states recognize tenancy by entirety?

Author

Rachel Davis

Updated on February 03, 2026

States with tenancy by the entirety are: Alaska, Arkansas, Delaware, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, and Wyoming.

What is the difference between joint tenancy and tenancy by the entirety?

For one, if property is held in tenancy by the entirety, neither spouse can transfer his or her half of the property alone, either while alive or by will or trust. It must go to the surviving spouse. This is different from joint tenancy; a joint tenant is free to break the joint tenancy at any time.

Does Indiana have transfer on death deeds?

A transfer on death deed can be a very helpful planning tool when designing an estate plan. Indiana is one of many states that allows the transfer of real property by a transfer on death deed.

What is meant by tenancy by the entirety?

The term tenancy by the entirety refers to a form of shared property ownership that is reserved only for married couples. This form of legal ownership creates a right of survivorship so if one spouse dies, the surviving spouse automatically receives the full title of the property.

What is a disadvantage of tenancy by the entirety?

If one of the spouses is sued, the property will not be subject to the creditors. However, there are various disadvantages to this type of ownership. The property will not be protected from joint creditors in a tenancy by entirety, including state government, personal injury suits and the IRS.

Does Illinois have tenancy by the entirety?

Illinois Law permits a unique means of holding title to a married couple’s residential property. The Tenancy by the Entirety is similar to a joint tenancy except that it can only be between married persons and only can be used on the parties’ marital residence.

What are the advantages of tenancy by the entirety?

Pros Of TBE Tenancy by entirety provides limited asset protection. Creditors cannot use the property as collateral to satisfy a debt. It prevents one spouse from putting a lien on the home or selling their ownership to a third party. It also provides the right of survivorship between spouses.

What does joint tenancy with rights of survivorship?

When joint tenants have right of survivorship, it means that the property shares of one co-tenant are transferred directly to the surviving co-tenant (or co-tenants) upon their death. While ownership of the property is shared equally in life, the living owners gain total ownership of any deceased co-owners’ shares.

Is there an exemption for tenancy by entirety in Indiana?

Exemption: Tenancy by the entirety is recognized in Indiana. ICA 32-4-2-1. Any interest that a debtor has in real estate held as a tenant by the entirety is exempt under state law unless the debtor and spouse file a joint petition for relief. ICA � 34-55-10-2 (b) (5).

What does it mean to be joint tenant in Indiana?

Joint tenancy often works well when couples (married or not) acquire real estate, vehicles, bank accounts or other valuable property together. In Indiana, each owner, called a joint tenant, must own an equal share. Tenancy by the entirety.

Are there any states that allow tenants by the entirety?

Half of all states—25 plus the District of Columbia—recognize tenancies by the entirety as of 2019, but with varying rules depending on the type of property in question. Alaska, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, North Carolina, and Oregon reserve this type of ownership for real estate only.

Can a couple be tenants by the entirety in Illinois?

At the other end of the spectrum, couples can only hold their homesteads as tenants by the entirety in Illinois. They can’t buy and title investment real estate this way. In Michigan, any joint tenancy entered into by a husband and wife automatically becomes a tenancy by the entirety by virtue of their marriage.