Under what condition may death impact property interests related to joint tenancies?

The condition under which death impacts property interests related to joint tenancies is when property interests are defined by survivorship rights or the will. In a joint tenancy, the key feature is the right of survivorship, which means that when one joint tenant dies, their interest in the property automatically passes to the surviving joint tenant(s), regardless of any contrary wishes expressed in a will. This singular characteristic of joint tenancy separates it from other forms of ownership, such as tenants in common, where the deceased's interest would typically pass according to their will or, if there is no will, by the laws of intestacy.

When survivorship rights are in effect, the deceased joint tenant's interest is extinguished upon their death, directly transferring to the remaining joint tenant(s) and thus bypassing the probate process, which involves distributing property according to wills or intestacy laws. Therefore, the manner in which property interests are structured in this scenario is crucial in determining how they will be affected by death, emphasizing the importance of understanding survivorship rights within the context of joint tenancies.