Joint tenancy not severed by tax lien before foreclosure

States disagree about what acts are sufficient to sever a joint tenancy and end the right of survivorship. The Maine Supreme Judicial Court has held that a tax lien, by itself, does not sever a joint tenancy before foreclosure. Estate of Priest, 2025 ME 24, 331 A.3d 451 (Me. 2025). In this case the property owners paid the delinquent taxes before expiration of the 18 month redemption period, and that payment was confirmed by quitclaim deeds issued by the town. Because there was no severance, the surviving joint tenant became the sole owner of the property on the death of her co-owner husband.