Trusts, Probate & Co-Owner Death Archives

Probate Code § 11950 – Two or More Beneficiaries Entitled to Undivided Interests; Petition for Partition, Allotment or Other Division (Probate Actions)

California Probate Code § 11950 is the California probate statute that allows two or more beneficiaries who are entitled to undivided interests in estate property to petition the court for a partition, allotment, or other division of that property. This statute ensures that co-beneficiaries can equitably divide estate property subject to administration and avoid the … Read More

Probate Code § 11953 – Division Proportionate to Party’s Interest; Sale Instead of Division; Agreement to Accept Undivided Interest (Probate Actions)

California Probate Code § 11953 is the California probate statute that governs how property should be divided among multiple beneficiaries who hold undivided interests in estate property, i.e., co-ownership. This section ensures that each beneficiary receives a portion of property equal in value to their share of the estate and allows for a sale when … Read More

Right of Survivorship in California: How It Affects Co-Ownership and Partition Actions

The right of survivorship determines whether property skips probate—or sparks a legal dispute. In California, this powerful legal principle allows a surviving co-owner to automatically inherit the deceased owner’s share of real estate—but only if title is held in a very specific way. When survivorship rights are not clearly stated in the deed, the property … Read More

Selling Inherited Property: Do All Heirs Have to Agree?

Can you sell inherited property if the other heirs say no? Yes—you can. That answer surprises many California heirs. When multiple heirs inherit real estate in California, it’s not uncommon for disagreements to arise—especially when one heir wants to sell the property but others do not. Many co-owners assume that all heirs must unanimously agree … Read More

Forcing the Sale after the Death of a Co-Owner Without Probate

Californians with a deceased co-owner can force the sale of the property without going through probate by filing a partition action. In California, the court can proceed with the partition by joining the deceased co-owner’s representative or successor, or simply their estate if their is no representative. This ensures that the property can be sold … Read More

Why Oral Life Estates Are Not Legally Recognized in California

California law is clear: a life estate must be in writing to be legally enforceable. In California, real estate transactions conveying ownership interests must follow strict legal requirements, particularly when it comes to life estates. Some property owners mistakenly believe that someone can transfer a life estate through a verbal agreement, but this is not … Read More

Severance of a Joint Tenancy After the ATRO in a Marital Dissolution: Implications for Partition Actions

In California, spouses frequently hold real estate as joint tenants, meaning that if one spouse dies, their interest automatically passes to the surviving spouse by right of survivorship. However, when a marriage dissolves, one spouse may wish to sever the joint tenancy and transfer their half interest to a living trust to ensure the property … Read More

What Happens If Your Co-Owner Dies During a Partition Action?

Partition actions are already challenging, but the unexpected death of a co-owner introduces additional complexity. If this happens, your next steps depend on whether the deceased co-owner had an attorney, their ownership structure, and the status of the case. Here’s what to do, including how to handle situations where the co-owner was a trustee of … Read More

Joint Tenancy with a Parent: What Happens When the Parent Decides to Sever the Joint Tenancy?

In California, joint tenancy is a common way for parents and children to co-own property, often with the understanding that the property will automatically transfer to the surviving joint tenant, presumably the child, upon the death of the other, presumably the parent. However, joint tenancies can be severed, and this can cause significant issues when … Read More

How to Sell Property After Co-owner’s Death

When real property is held by a co-owner who has passed away, California law allowed the remaining co-owners to sell property by filing a partition action. This means that co-owners do not need to wait for a probate action to be filed or wait to find out who will be the successor trustee of the … Read More

What Happens If Your Co-Owner Dies During a Partition Action?

How to Sell Property After Co-owner’s Death

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