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.
In a recent landmark judgment, the Supreme Court of India held that in a suit for partition of joint property, every interested party is deemed a plaintiff. This means that each co-sharer has the right to initiate and pursue a partition suit, and no one co-sharer can prevent another from doing so.
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.)
The California Law Civil Procedure Code section 872.210 states anyone who wants to dissolve ownership that is jointly owned with another person has a legal right to sell his/her interest if desired. Eligibility for Partitions are: Inheritance that is usually family members who inherit real and personal property.
A partition action is filed in the Court by submitting a “complaint” that complies with all of the requirements of the Code of Civil Procedure. In California, almost all of the partition actions are filed by attorneys on behalf of parties because there are a number of technical legal requirements for filing a lawsuit.
A partition action can compel the sale of jointly owned property when co-owners disagree. The process may take up to two years, depending on case complexity and cooperation. Exploring alternatives like mediation before filing a partition action is often advisable.
If negotiation or mediation fails to resolve the dispute, the next step is to prepare and file a partition complaint. You have to file the Complaint in the Superior Court of California for the County where the Property is located. This is the only court with the power to hear the case.
California enacted the Uniform Partition of Heirs Property Act in 2021 (Assembly Bill 633), which preserves the rights of the heirs of an intestate landowner by adding a number of due process protections for partition procedures to state probate law that help to ensure all heirs receive a fair share of the proceeds if ...