B Creating Joint Ownership

 

 

Revised 11/02/2021

 

Policy

Placing another person's name on an asset may limit the availability of the resource or the customer’s right to sell or dispose of the resource. For example, this may happen when adding the other person's name requires that the person agree to the sale or disposal of the resource where no such agreement was needed before.

When the customer places another person’s name on real property as a joint owner, the value of the other owner’s interest in the property is a transfer.

NOTE     Adding another person's name to the title of a financial account usually does not change the customer’s access to the funds. However, the title change must be reviewed to ensure that the customer’s access has not been restricted, and the actual use of the funds must be reviewed for possible transfers.

Review how resources are titled to determine whether or not a transfer has occurred. The following table includes common title language and how it may affect the customer’s ownership and access to the resource:

When the jointly owned asset is titled…

Then…

  • The customer “or” another person;

  • The customer “and/or” another person; or

  • No designation; just multiple names listed.

The customer’s right to sell or otherwise use or dispose of the asset has not been limited and does not result in a transfer with uncompensated value.

NOTE     However, it is a transfer when the other person sells, or uses up, the jointly titled resource.

Customer “and” another person

There is a transfer. The customer’s right to sell or otherwise use or dispose of the asset has been limited because the customer must now get the other owner to agree to the sale, use or disposal of the asset.

NOTE     The transfer occurs when the other person’s name is added to the title.

See How to Prorate the Value of a Jointly Owned Resource for details.

See Creating Joint Ownership - Examples

 

Definitions

Term

Definition

Joint Ownership

More than one person has legal right to use, sell or dispose of a resource. See MA704B for more policy on jointly owned resources.

 

Proof

When a countable income or resource has been transferred, documents need to be provided to prove:

 

Legal Authority

Program

Legal Authorities

ALTCS

42 USC 1396p(c)(3)

AAC R9-28-401 and 409