Offsets in Partition Archives

Down Payment Gifts in Partition Actions

In partition actions, where co-owners seek to divide or sell jointly owned property, the issue of down payment gifts can become a contentious matter. When one party receives a substantial financial gift from their family members or friends, intended to be used as a down payment for their share of the property, it can complicate … Read More

Allocation of Costs of Partition Under the Partition of Real Property Act

Partition actions involve dividing co-owned property, which can be a complex and costly legal process. The Partition of Real Property Act in California guides how these costs should be allocated among the co-owners, focusing on fairness and the specific circumstances of each case. This article explores the principles behind the allocation of partition costs and … Read More

Avoiding Double Counting Errors in Partition Actions: A Common Pitfall in Real Estate Dispute Accounting

Partition actions, which resolve disputes between co-owners of real estate, often involve detailed accounting of costs, contributions, and reimbursements. Despite the best efforts of partition attorneys and courts, one common error that can significantly impact the fairness of a partition judgment is the double counting error. This occurs when costs or contributions are improperly included … Read More

How to Prove Unpaid Rent in a California Partition Action

Proving Unpaid Net Rental Proceeds Collected by a Co-Owner in a California Partition Action Co-owning a property in California can be a profitable arrangement, particularly when it’s rented out. But what happens if one co-owner collects all the rent, perhaps for decades, but refuses to share the income? In a partition action, you may be … Read More

What Information Should a Co-owner Gather to Prove Mortgage Payments for a Partition Action?

Proving Mortgage Payments in a Partition Action Accounting

When co-owned property results in a partition action, the court or partition referee may require evidence of who paid the mortgage to divide the proceeds of sale. This article explains how to meticulously gather and organizing documents, including digital payment records between co-owners, to allow co-owners to present a compelling case to prove and recover … Read More

What is Owelty in Partition Law?

In California, partition actions often arise when co-owners of a property—whether through inheritance, romantic partnerships, or other joint ownership—decide to divide their shared property. However, dividing a property equally can be challenging, especially when the property’s value is not uniform across its different parts. To address this, California law provides for a mechanism known as … Read More

Can I Remove My Former Fiancé(e) From the Title of My Property?

Separating from a partner is a difficult position but it is even more complex when an unmarried couple separates after purchasing a property together. Unfortunately, this scenario is common enough that nearly half of all partition cases involve unmarried couples. Depending on whether the goal of a co-owner is to force the sale of the … Read More

My Co-owner is Not Paying the Mortgage

If your co-owner is not paying the mortgage, this may be an early sign of a co-ownership dispute. In many scenarios where a co-owner is unwilling to contribute to a co-owned property, there will be disagreements on the disposition of property and how to manage the liabilities that accompany real property ownership. Or, perhaps the … Read More

How Does the Partition Referee Get Paid?

The compensation of the partition referee is paid at the end of the case, which is generally when the co-owners are being paid. In California, partition referees effectuate the court’s judgment that the property should be partitioned, which usually involves a sale of the property. The Partition Referee Gets Paid at the End of the … Read More

Can I Make Improvements to a Property in a Partition?

Can You Make Property Improvements During a Partition?

While you may want to make improvements to a co-owned property, you may want to consider the timing in relation to when you file a partition. This article will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of allocating funds for property improvements depending on where you are in filing a partition action. Should You Make Improvements Before … Read More