The correct answer is C. Massachusetts recognizes tenancy by the entirety as a form of concurrent ownership available to married spouses, but spouses are not universally required to use it.
Depending on the deed and circumstances, spouses may instead own as joint tenants or tenants in common. Each form has materially different legal consequences.
Tenancy by the entirety includes survivorship characteristics and special protections arising from the marital ownership relationship. Joint tenancy also generally carries a right of survivorship, but it is not limited to married couples. Tenancy in common provides each owner with an undivided interest without an automatic right of survivorship; a deceased tenant ' s interest generally passes according to the owner ' s estate plan or intestacy law.
Because the form of title can affect inheritance, creditors, conveyancing, estate planning, divorce, and financing, purchasers should obtain appropriate legal advice when choosing how to take title.
The licensing-exam principle is simple: tenancy by the entirety is available to qualifying spouses, not mandatory merely because they are married.
Study Guide Reference: Property Ownership — Tenancy in Common, Joint Tenancy and Tenancy by the Entirety.
