When one co-owner wants to live in a property and the other does not, a partition action is the ultimate legal solution to resolve disputes over possession, expenses, and fairness. In California, uncooperative co-owners generally have equal rights to occupy the entire property, but that doesn’t mean one can live there without consequences. Equal Right … Read More
A default partition judgment allows the court to order the sale of the property without the absent co-owner’s involvement. When a co-owner files a partition action and the other party refuses to respond, the case moves forward. Co-owners have an absolute right to partition under California law. Whether the other party engages or not, the … Read More
A co-owner who abandons a property in California does not lose their ownership rights, but their absence often creates financial strain that can be resolved through a partition action. When one co-owner stops contributing, the remaining co-owner is often left covering the mortgage and upkeep alone. This situation is common among unmarried couples, family members, … Read More
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
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
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
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
Owning real estate in California can create significant financial opportunity — and significant tax complexity. Whether the property is a residence, rental, inherited asset, or co-owned investment, multiple layers of taxes may apply at different stages of co-ownership. For co-owners in particular, taxes often become critically important when a dispute arises, a buyout is negotiated, … Read More
Mental illness can create challenges, with property co-ownership being particularly challenging under California law. From refusal to sell to unpaid expenses, behavioral health concerns can complicate co-ownership and often lead to property disputes. Conditions like anxiety, depression, or substance use disorders may cause communication breakdowns, financial mismanagement, or outright refusal to cooperate. These issues often … Read More
Owning a house with someone is hard enough when you can talk, negotiate, and sign paperwork together. But when the co-owner is incarcerated, normal solutions often grind to a halt—refinancing stalls, sale decisions get vetoed, and even basic issues like repairs and improvements or rental management turn into disputes. In California, incarceration does not erase … Read More
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