Ocean Sands Title Services

07/24/2026

03/27/2026

01/01/2026

🎆 Cheers to closing out an incredible year! 🎉
Thank you for the trust, partnerships, and milestones shared in 2025. Here’s to riding the wave into 2026 with new opportunities, continued success, and seamless closings ahead. 🥂✨
Wishing you a Happy, Healthy, and Prosperous New Year from all of us at Ocean Sands Title Services!

12/03/2025

🌊 What Happens to Joint Tenancy When One Owner Passes Away?

Florida Real Estate Tip by Ocean Sands Title 🏡⚖️

In Florida, many property owners choose to hold title as Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship (JTWROS). But what does that mean when one of the owners dies?

Automatic Transfer of Ownership: Under Florida law, when a joint tenant passes away, their share automatically transfers to the surviving joint tenant(s).

No probate. No court delays. The property simply continues in the name of the survivor(s).

What Is Required?
To update the public record, the surviving owner typically only needs to record:
• A certified copy of the death certificate

Once filed, the county’s official records will reflect the surviving owner as holding full title.

It is Important that
• Joint Tenants with Right of Survivorship must be clearly written on the deed, otherwise, Florida law may treat the ownership as tenants in common, which does require probate.
• Federal estate tax rules may require reporting the deceased owner’s interest in larger estates, but this does not stop the automatic transfer of the property to the surviving joint tenant.
• Florida does not impose a state estate tax.

Why It Matters?
Joint tenancy can be a powerful estate, planning tool for couples or co-owners who want to avoid probate and ensure a smooth transition of ownership.

⚖️ Important Note: This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For specific legal guidance, please consult a Florida licensed attorney.

🌴 Ocean Sands Title
Your trusted resource for Florida closings, title education, and smooth real estate transactions.
13753 Linden Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34609
813-499-9949

12/02/2025

🌊 What Happens When a Co-Owner Dies and the Property Was Held as Tenants in Common?

Ocean Sands Title | Florida Closing & Title Education

When two or more people own Florida real estate as tenants in common, each person holds a separate, undivided interest. That matters if one owner passes away.

🕊️ 1️⃣ Their Share Does Not Transfer to the Surviving Owner

Under Florida law, tenancy in common does not include a right of survivorship.
The deceased owner’s share becomes part of their estate and is transferred according to:
• their will, or
• Florida intestacy laws if there is no will.

🏛️ 2️⃣ Probate Is Usually Required

Because the deceased owner’s share becomes an estate asset, it typically must go through the Florida probate process before it can be legally transferred to heirs or beneficiaries.

🏡 3️⃣ Can the Surviving Owner Sell the Property?

➡️ Not the entire property on their own.
The surviving owner may only sell their own interest.
To sell the whole property, they’ll need:
• the personal representative of the estate, or
• the heirs/beneficiaries
to agree and join in the conveyance.

If parties cannot agree, Florida law allows for a partition action, which can result in a court-ordered sale.

⚖️ Important Note
This post is for general informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For specific legal guidance, please consult a Florida-licensed attorney.

🌴 Ocean Sands Title
Your trusted resource for Florida closings, title education, and smooth real estate transactions.
13753 Linden Drive, Spring Hill, Florida 34609
813-499-9949

11/20/2025

🏡 Did you know that when you buy a home in Florida, you aren’t just purchasing the structure, you’re also purchasing the property’s legal history? That’s why title insurance is such a critical part of protecting your investment.

✔️ What Title Insurance Does

Title insurance helps protect homeowners and lenders against financial loss resulting from problems in a property’s title, such as:
• Unknown liens
• Errors in public records
• Claims from prior owners
• Unreleased mortgages
• Undisclosed heirs
• Fraud or forgery in past transfers

A title search helps identify many issues, but title insurance gives you protection even after closing, just in case something was missed or couldn’t have been discovered.

🌴 It’s Especially Important in Florida

Florida’s real estate market has:
• A high number of prior owners
• Frequent transfers and refinances
• Complex homestead laws
• Significant exposure to fraud and identity-related property crimes

This makes clear title and title insurance even more essential for buyers and lenders.

🛡️ One-Time Cost, Long-Term Protection

Unlike other types of insurance, you pay for title insurance only once at closing—and it protects you for as long as you own the property.

Ocean Sands Title
(813) 499-9949
13753 Linden Drive
Spring Hill, Florida 34609
[email protected]

This message is for informational purposes only, is not legal advice.

Specific requirements may vary by county, lender, and transaction type. Always review your official closing documents and consult a Florida-licensed real estate attorney or title professional for advice on your specific situation.