What is a joint ownership deed?

A joint ownership deed refers to a legal document establishing that a property belongs not to a single person, but to two or more individuals. In other words, if a deed has more than one owner, it is considered joint ownership. This term comes from the Latin pro indiviso, meaning "undivided," indicating that the owners share the property in common, without specifying a physical division of the property.
Examples of Joint Ownership Deeds
To better understand this concept, let's look at some practical examples:
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- Family ShoppingImagine a family decides to purchase a lot in a rural development. The husband makes the purchase, but also lists his wife as a co-owner. In this case, both are listed as owners on the deed, each with a 50/50 share in the property. This is a typical example of a joint ownership deed.
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- Investment among FriendsAnother common scenario is when a group of friends decide to invest together in a piece of land. Let's suppose four friends acquire a lot worth 400 million pesos. Each contributes 100 million pesos, so each owns 25% of the lot. The deed will show the names of the four friends, each with their corresponding percentage. Since there is more than one owner, this deed is joint ownership.
Conclusion
In short, a joint ownership deed reflects the shared ownership of a property between two or more people, each with a percentage share, without a physical division of the land. These types of deeds are common in joint purchase situations, whether between family members, friends, or investment partners.