Source URL:: <https://www.forbes.com/sites/matthewerskine/2021/11/08/when-unmarried-couples-own-real-estate-together/> --- ## When Unmarried Couples Own Real Estate Together Much of the estate and tax planning for such couples reproduces the rights of married couples while avoiding unwanted income and estate taxes. ### Highlights > [!quote]+ Updated on Fri May 12 2023 16:30:19 GMT-0400 > > Tenants in common. Each partner owns a share as specified in the deed. At the first partner&#39;s death, his or her share becomes part of his or her estate and is distributed along with the rest of the estate. If a portion of the estate will go to, say, family members, then the surviving partner will have to come to some agreement with them as to the disposition of the home because they will have a partial ownership in the property. (Note that when two or more owners are listed on a deed, the assumption is that they are tenants in common unless the deed specifies otherwise.)