What is the key feature of joint tenancy regarding ownership upon death?

The key feature of joint tenancy regarding ownership upon death is that the shares automatically pass to the remaining joint tenant(s). This principle is rooted in the legal concept of survivorship, which is fundamental to joint tenancy arrangements. When one joint tenant dies, their interest in the property does not become part of their estate; instead, it directly transfers to the surviving joint tenant(s). This mechanism allows the remaining owners to maintain uninterrupted ownership of the property without the need for probate or any further legal processes that would typically be involved in transferring estate assets.

In contrast, options that mention dividing shares among owners or selling the property immediately misinterpret the nature of joint tenancy, which is characterized by the right of survivorship. The mention of ownership including a life interest introduces a different ownership arrangement and is not applicable to joint tenancy, where the primary focus is the automatic transfer of ownership rights upon death. Hence, the unique characteristic ensuring that remaining joint tenants inherit the deceased's shares is what firmly establishes option B as the correct choice.