The Living Together section of Nolo also discusses various forms of contracts for unmarried people who want to share ownership of property. Also, because your shared home represents a major economic investment, you should hire a lawyer to help you prepare an agreement that meets your needs.
To create a joint tenancy with the right of survivorship, all you need to do is put the right words on the title document, such as a deed to real estate, a car's title slip, or the signature card establishing a bank account.
Can One Owner Sell a Jointly Owned Property? Generally, one co-owner cannot sell the entire property without the consent of the others. However, in a tenancy in common, a party may sell their interest without seeking consent from the others.
If you find yourself in a situation where one owner wants to sell the property but the others don't, there are a few different options to consider. These may include negotiating a buyout agreement, seeking mediation or arbitration, or taking legal action to force a sale.
Tenancy by the entirety (TBE) In this situation, each spouse owns an undivided interest in the property, and neither can sell or give away their interest without consent.
That is true if 100% title is to be transferred. If one owner wants to sell 100% of the title to someone then all owners must consent and sign a deed. If the one of the owners owns 25% of the property, then they may sell or transfer their 25% without consent of the others.
Co-ownership disputes may be settled through one owner buying the other out, or an agreement to sell the property. A knowledgeable attorney can advise about the advantages and disadvantages of partition actions and other options available to feuding co-owners.
The Living Together section of Nolo also discusses various forms of contracts for unmarried people who want to share ownership of property. Also, because your shared home represents a major economic investment, you should hire a lawyer to help you prepare an agreement that meets your needs.