What type of ownership do Julia and Gene have if Gene wants to leave his ownership interest to his son but cannot?

The correct answer is joint tenancy. In a joint tenancy arrangement, all owners have an equal share of the property, and a crucial feature is the right of survivorship. This means that when one owner passes away, their interest automatically transfers to the surviving owner(s), not to their heirs or beneficiaries.

In the scenario provided, Gene wishes to leave his ownership interest to his son but is unable to do so because, under joint tenancy, his ownership interest will automatically pass to Julia upon his death. Therefore, the nature of their ownership restricts Gene's ability to transfer his interest freely.

Understanding this characteristic of joint tenancy highlights why Gene’s desire to leave his interest to his son cannot be fulfilled. In contrast, other forms of ownership like tenancy in common or community property would allow for more flexibility regarding the transfer of ownership interests upon death.