Lawyering through fandoms: Joint tenancies
Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle, at some point in the future, get married and purchased this new property as joint tenants (let’s call it “Wayne-Kyle Manor”). During a fight with the Joker, Bruce is fatally stabbed by Harley Quinn. Perhaps the DC writers wanted to subvert our expectations in this storyline.
Anyways, Bruce dies. But before he died, he devised a will which states that upon his death, his interest in Wayne-Kyle Manor goes to his son, Damian Wayne. Damian is about to formally accept the new property until he’s told by Selina Kyle that the will won’t hold up in court.
“What do you mean!?” shouts Damian. Selina apologizes and says that she’s actually the sole owner of Wayne-Kyle Manor now.
Damian is about to throw a tantrum when Alfred tells him that because Bruce and Selina owned the Manor as joint tenants, there was a right of survivorship. When one joint tenant dies, their ownership interest of the property immediately passes on to the surviving joint tenant (which would be Selina). Even though Bruce left a will, it won’t be upheld in court.
In response, Damian decides to go out and beat up a few thugs in anger.
