Relations of Co-owners Archives

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

Multi-Property Partitions: Should I Leave One Property Out of the Partition?

Multi-property partitions can become one of the most complicated real estate disputes co-owners face. When co-owners purchase or when families inherit multiple properties together, it doesn’t take long before disagreements arise. Some co-owners want to sell everything, while others insist on keeping certain properties in the family. This raises an important question: Should all properties … 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

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

Will My Ex Obtain Half the Equity in a Partition?

A common misperception in co-ownership of real estate in California is that ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends will each get half the proceeds of sale in a partition. This myth is often repeated by exes who put in less than half the money on the property, but want half now that the romantic relationship has ended since … Read More

Selling Inherited Co-Owned Property to Move Out of California

For those who inherit co-owned homes in California, the decision to keep or sell the property is increasingly influenced by the financial benefits of relocating to less expensive areas. In the past few years, Californians have been relocating to states where their money stretches further, thereby improving the quality of life. This article delves into … Read More

Should I Stay on the Mortgage of a Co-Owned House?

Co-owning a home can be a practical solution to rising housing costs, but when circumstances change and you want to sell your partial interest in the property, it raises the question: should you agree to stay on the mortgage or should you be removed from the mortgage? This decision requires careful consideration of several factors … Read More

Why is a Partition Action Needed?

A partition is often necessary because joint property ownership can swiftly transform from harmonious cohabitation to contentious disputes. Whether it’s the dissolution of a romantic partnership, irreconcilable differences in investment strategies, or disagreements over property usage, many co-owners find themselves looking for ways to end their co-ownership of real property. In such scenarios, where one … Read More

I Inherited a House with a Mortgage. Can the Lender Make me Refinance?

Due on Sale Clause Inapplicable Based on Death No. If you inherit a property, or a fractional interest in real estate, there is generally no need to contact the lender to negotiate or otherwise ask for approval to keep paying the loan each month. The commonly believed issue is that the transfer to heirs of … Read More