Escrow & Title
A Minnesota property is conveyed to 'John and Jane Smith, as joint tenants.' To terminate the joint tenancy, one spouse could:
ASimply notify the other spouse that they wish to terminate
BRecord a deed conveying their interest to themselves as a tenant in common✓ Correct
CFile a petition with the county recorder
DObtain a court order terminating the joint tenancy
Explanation
In Minnesota, a joint tenant can unilaterally sever the joint tenancy by conveying their interest to a straw man (third party) and then having it conveyed back, or in some states (and likely Minnesota under modern practice), by directly recording a deed conveying their interest to themselves as a tenant in common. Recording the deed creates public notice of the severance.
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