What happens to the interest of a deceased joint tenant?

The correct answer is that the interest of a deceased joint tenant passes automatically to the surviving joint tenants due to the right of survivorship inherent in joint tenancy. In a joint tenancy, all joint tenants hold an equal interest in the property, and this arrangement includes the right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their share does not become part of their estate or pass according to their will; instead, it directly transfers to the remaining joint tenants. This automatic transfer continues until the last surviving tenant holds full ownership of the property.

The nature of joint tenancy is to provide a seamless transfer of interest upon death, avoiding probate, which is a significant advantage of this form of ownership. As a result, any claims regarding the deceased's share by the estate or heirs do not apply, making it clear why the other options do not fit this scenario.