"Tenants in common" is a specific way to title real estate. Other options, such as tenants by the entirety or joint tenancy with right of survivorship are also available.
Tenants in Common: How it Works
You can have 2 or more co-tenants in a tenants in common relationship. These co-tenants are not required to be related, let alone married. The shares may be in any relative amount, equal or unequal.
Tenants in Common: When One Tenant Dies
When a co-tenant dies, his/her ownership stake does NOT automatically pass to the co-tenant, but rather passes according to the terms of the decedent’s will.