Which arrangement allows property to pass to survivors at death without probate?

The arrangement that allows property to pass to survivors at death without the need for probate is a joint life estate with remainder to the survivor. This type of ownership creates a situation where two or more individuals hold the property jointly as life tenants. Upon the death of one joint life tenant, the interest automatically passes to the surviving joint life tenant(s) without going through the probate process.

In a joint life estate, the key feature is the right of survivorship, meaning the surviving owner inherits the deceased owner's interest in the property directly. This bypasses probate, which can be a lengthy and costly process, allowing for a quicker and more efficient transfer of property.

In contrast, a life estate generally terminates at the death of the life tenant, and the property may not automatically pass to a survivor but rather to another designated party or revert to the original grantor. A fee simple absolute provides complete ownership of the property, but upon death, it requires probate to transfer ownership to heirs or beneficiaries. Tenancy in common does not offer survivorship rights, as each owner has an individual interest that can be passed on to heirs, necessitating probate to transfer those interests. Thus, the joint life estate with remainder to survivor is uniquely positioned to facilitate a seamless transfer without