What distinguishes tenancy by the entirety from other forms of property ownership?

Tenancy by the entirety is a unique form of joint property ownership that is specifically designed for married couples. This type of ownership treats the couple as a single legal entity, meaning that they jointly own the property as one rather than as individual owners. One key characteristic of tenancy by the entirety is that it provides rights of survivorship, so if one spouse passes away, the surviving spouse automatically becomes the sole owner of the property without the need for probate.

This arrangement offers certain protections as well, such as shielding the property from individual creditors of either spouse, which is not the case with other forms of ownership like joint tenancy or tenancy in common. In contrast, forms of ownership that do not involve couples, such as tenancy in common or joint tenancy, have different rules regarding ownership shares and rights of survivorship.

Thus, the defining feature of tenancy by the entirety is its exclusive applicability to married couples, allowing them to own property collectively as one legal entity, which is fundamentally distinct from other forms of property ownership.