In 2022, Arizona adopted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act (UPHPA), which aims to address these challenges. Under this law, when a co-owner wishes to sell, the other heirs have the option to buy out that person's interest before a forced sale occurs.
Partition lawsuits can be expensive, with costs potentially ranging from tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars. The biggest expenses typically include attorney fees, court costs, and expert witness fees.
On average, a straightforward partition action might be resolved in 6-12 months. However, more complex cases or those involving multiple properties or disputed ownership percentages can take 18 months or longer to reach a resolution. It's important to understand that the timeline isn't just about court proceedings.
Three to nine months is the usual time it takes to resolve a partition action. However, co-owners who hire a lawyer other than a partition attorney may find that it will take much longer due to the lack of skill in ending co-ownership disputes.
In Arizona, the partition of real estate refers to the division of property rights among co-owners. This process is typically initiated when divorcing parties cannot agree, or when there is a disagreement or dispute between co-owners regarding the management, use, or disposition of the property.
Legal Notice: If no agreement is reached, a legal notice must be served to all parties, informing them of the intent to partition the property. Filing a Partition Suit: In case of disagreements, a partition suit can be filed in court. The court examines all evidence and issues a decree for the division of property.
One to acquire title purely by adverse possession, such possession must be actual, open and notorious, hostile, under a claim of right, continuous for the statutory period (here 10 years), and exclusive." Rorebeck v. Criste, 1 Ariz.
Arizona Partition Actions File in superior court in the county in which the property is located; Identify the names and residences of each of the known owners, Identify everyone? s known ownership interests and claims; and. Include a description of the property, and it's estimated value.
§§ 12-1211 through 12-1225. Partition is an absolute right of property owners in the state, meaning that a person with an ownership interest in property may ask a court to force a sale or divide jointly-owned property at anytime. There are, however, some exceptions to this general rule.