By severing the joint tenancy you are making the co-owners tenants-in-common instead of joint tenants, and therefore you're able to leave your share of the property to anyone you like. ... By severing the joint tenancy you can then specify in your will who gets your interest in the property.

What is the significance of severing a joint tenancy?

E) SEVERING THE JOINT TENANCY

It is always open to a joint tenant to sever a joint tenancy in order to avoid the consequences of the Right of Survivorship, thereby converting the said joint tenancy into a tenancy in common.

How can a beneficial joint tenancy be severed?

Bankruptcy of a joint proprietor will automatically sever a beneficial joint tenancy as a matter of law. The Trustee in Bankruptcy should apply for appropriate restrictions but does not always do so.