What does tenants by entirety mean?

The term "tenancy by the entirety" means that valuable property is owned by a husband and wife so that both own the entire property. Each has right of survivorship, meaning that when one spouse dies, the other acquires sole ownership.

Tenancy by the entirety differs from joint tenancy in that neither partner has the right to sell his share of the property. Another difference is that in joint tenancy, right of survivorship does not apply.

Couples often choose tenancy by the entirety to avoid probate when one spouse dies. Not all states offer this type of title, and some offer it for real estate only.