Scott Talkov

Can You Force a Co-Owner to Buy Your Share?

When co-owners of real estate decide to go their separate ways, a buyout is often the first solution discussed. One party keeps the property and pays the other for their share. However, this only works if the co-owner has the financial ability and is willing to follow through. When the buyout does not happen, many … Read More

What Happens When a Co-Owner Refuses to Communicate About Sale or Buyout? (Partition Actions)

When a co-owner refuses to communicate about selling jointly owned property, California law allows you to force a resolution through a partition action. For the co-owner seeking a resolution, this lack of response can feel like being trapped in a situation with no clear path forward. Why Co-Owners Refuse to Communicate It is common for … Read More

Does a No Contest Clause in a Trust Prevent a Partition?

When a trust beneficiary co-owns inherited property with other beneficiaries, disputes over the property are common. One question that frequently arises is whether a beneficiary who files a partition action to force the sale or division of that property risks triggering a no contest clause buried in the trust. The short answer is: almost certainly … Read More

Co-Owner Can’t Force You to Pay Their Capital Gains Tax in a Partition Sale

Among the more creative arguments in partition action cases is the idea that one co-owner should pay the capital gains taxes of the other co-owner. When co-owned property is sold, especially in a partition action, disputes often arise over who gets what, known as a partition accounting. Usually, these claims about accounting relate to unequal … Read More

Family Code § 2108 – Is a Partition Action the Better Option?

Co-ownership with a divorcing couples presents a challenge to force the sale of a property when a co-owner wants out due to the high burden of Family Code § 2108. This is where a partition action often becomes the more powerful legal tool. What Does Family Code Section 2108 Do? California Family Code Section 2108 … Read More

Amundson v. Catello (2025) – Can Heirs Force a Partition Sale?

The recent decision in Amundson et al. v. Catello (2025) 111 Cal.App.5th 817 serves as an important reminder that not everyone who expects to own property has the legal right to bring a partition action. Background of the Case In Amundson, siblings of a decedent sought to partition real property that was still subject to … Read More

How To File a Partition Action in California

When co-owners of real estate in California can no longer agree on what to do with a property, a partition action allows one or more owners to force the sale of jointly owned property through the court. Partition actions are common when siblings inherit property, unmarried couples buy homes together, or investors disagree about whether … Read More

Spouse Won’t Sell an Inherited House in California

When a spouse inherits a fractional interest in a house from their family, disagreements can arise within the marriage about what should happen to the co-owned property. One spouse may want to sell the inherited home and use the money to move or invest elsewhere, while the spouse who inherited the property may want to … Read More

Sibling Rivalries and Co-Ownership Partition Actions: When Family Heirlooms Become Legal Disputes

When siblings inherit a house together, the property is often more than a set of walls and a roof. It is the last place everyone remembers Mom cooking holidays, the hallway where Dad used to stand telling stories, and the backyard where the older brother taught the younger brother how to throw a ball. But … Read More

When a Co-Owner in Possession Refuses to Cooperate in California

One of the most common reasons a co-owner refuses to cooperate with a sale is simple: they are already getting what they want. If your co-owner is living in the property, they may have little incentive to sell or buy you out. In fact, they may actively delay, obstruct, or ignore your requests in hopes … Read More

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