What happens if a joint owner forges another joint owner's signature to convey property?

In cases of joint ownership, each owner has a vested interest in the property. If one joint owner forges the signature of another to convey the jointly owned property, this action is considered fraudulent. The deed is void as to the joint owner whose signature was forged. This means that the fraudulent act does not create a valid transfer of ownership for that individual; they still maintain their rights to the property.

However, the forged deed may create an effect regarding the person who committed the forgery. In some jurisdictions, the forgery may be seen as an act that could potentially allow conveyance to a good faith purchaser who did not know about the fraud. Nevertheless, the key element is that the original joint owner retains their ownership rights because the signature was unlawfully obtained, rendering the deed invalid in relation to their interest, while also establishing that the fraudulent act cannot transfer their interest without consent.

This understanding clarifies why the deed does not fully validly convey the property for both owners—the act of forgery undermines the legitimacy of the transaction for the non-consenting joint owner. This situation maintains the principle that all parties must participate in any conveyance involving their interests, ensuring fairness and equity in ownership.