California - Will a HELOC affect joint tenancy?

[Laura C.]

I plan to quit my FT job later this year - thinking about getting a HELOC beforehand while I still have proof of employment. Will be a rainy day/future investments type of fund - no purpose just yet. I'm in California with a primary home. It's just me and one other person on the mortgage. 3 other people and myself are on the title (joint tenancy). I've never applied for a HELOC before, but have 2 questions:

1. Will the HELOC affect our joint tenancy in any way? I don't want this impacting our current set-up; home needs to remain as a joint tenancy with 4 people. Someone told me I'd become a tenants in common with the HELOC while the other 3 would remain as joint tenants. This is not what I want.

2. Bonus question - do all 4 people on the title need to sign paperwork for my HELOC?