An Act to clarify the rights of joint owners of real property and abolish certain inconsistent or archaic rules

This bill clarifies how real property is owned by multiple people in Massachusetts and removes outdated legal rules. It allows owners to specify unequal shares of ownership in deeds or wills, even if they hold title as joint tenants or tenants in common. The law also permits married couples to explicitly choose a tenancy by the entirety, a form of ownership that previously could not be created by specific wording. Additionally, owners can record a declaration to define their specific type of shared ownership, which will then be legally binding. These changes apply to all property transfers and wills recorded or filed on or after December 31, 2024.