Previously, the partition law in California permitted any co-owner of a property to force a sale, often to the detriment of other owners. The new amendments, however, introduce a right of first refusal.
Here is an overview on how a partition action will play out in court. The party who wishes to initiate the action (the “Plaintiff”) must file a verified complaint for partition. The court will first determine the ownership interests of each of the co-owners.
How Long Does a Partition Action Take? While most lawsuits in California are supposed to take two years or more, there are a number of steps that an experienced partition lawyer can take to ensure that a partition action takes in less time.
All matters in San Bernardino County are filed and heard at the Fontana District.
Dial 888-882-6878 or visit the CourtCall website at urtcall to schedule a remote appearance for matters scheduled on participating calendars.
The actual time it takes from when a partition case is filed to when the land is partitioned physically, by sale, or by set-off varies from case to case. In general, partition cases can take several months or even years to resolve.
How to File a Partition Action in California Step 1: Determine Whether You Have Standing to File. Step 2: Hire an Experienced Real Estate Attorney. Step 3: Prepare the Necessary Documents. Step 4: Serve Notice to Other Co-owners. Step 5: Court Proceedings and Mediation. Step 6: Partition by Sale or Partition in Kind.
To initiate a partition action in California, a co-owner must file a lawsuit in the appropriate court and name all other co-owners as defendants. The court will then determine whether partition is appropriate, and if so, will order the sale or division of the property.
Generally, courts divide the costs of partition among the parties in proportion to their ownership interests or in a different manner when necessary to ensure equitable distributions. (CCP § 874.040.)