Judgments Against Joint Tenants With Right of Survivorship

When Allen Holland died suddenly, his widow's one consolation was that she would be secure in her own home, since they owned it as joint tenants with right of survivorship. Then she was notified by Center City Finance that unless she paid off a $4,200 loan Allen had taken out, she could lose the house after all.

"This isn't my debt," Eileen Holland protested.

"Well, we have a judgment, and it's been filed as a lien against your house," the finance company manager told her. "If it isn't taken care of within the next week, it's our intention to look to the house for payment and put it up for sale immediately."

"I didn't think you could do something like that," she said. "We held the house jointly, and my husband said I was protected."

"Well, you're not protected, and this money has to be paid within the next 10 days or else we will proceed against you."

"My husband told me that we held the property jointly and that it would pass to me if anything happened to him."

Is Eileen Correct?

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