Malibu Partition Lawyer

Partition Action Attorneys in Malibu

Los Angeles, the largest city in California and second-largest in the U.S., is located on the Southern California coast. Known for its Mediterranean climate and vibrant entertainment industry, the city also boasts iconic landmarks like the Hollywood Sign and Griffith Observatory.

As a major center for business, finance, and education, Los Angeles thrives culturally, yet its housing market faces significant challenges amidst rising property values and limited supply.

Rising property values, a limited housing supply, and ever-growing demand have created a complex real estate environment. These factors make property ownership disputes increasingly common, underscoring the importance of legal strategies like partition actions to ensure fair resolutions for co-owners navigating Los Angeles’ competitive and evolving housing market.According to Zillow’s Home Value Index, as of mid-2024, the average home price in Los Angeles is around $956,844, reflecting a 4.7% year-over-year increase.

Talkov Law’s attorneys serving Los Angeles County are exceptionally experienced in California partition actions and have conducted over 370 successful partitions for our satisfied clients. A California partition action is a law that allows co-owners of real property to divide the property among themselves. The partition statutes provide a legal mechanism for co-owners to divide the property without having to go through the court system. The partition statutes allow co-owners to divide the property either by agreement or by court order. If the co-owners cannot agree on how to divide the property, then the court will divide the property in a way that is fair and equitable to all parties. The partition statutes also provide that any partition of the property must be done in accordance with the laws of the state of California. The legal effect of the partition statutes is that it provides a legal mechanism for co-owners to divide their property without having to go through the court system.

Our team of partition attorneys can assist co-owners with frequently asked questions about partitions, such as:

• What is the average cost of a partition action? The usual cost for a partition action is about $8,000 to $12,000, depending on the complexity. Some cases settle quickly after the defendant receives the partition complaint, while others can drag on longer if there are more complex issues or delay tactics by the defendant.
• Can I still file a partition if my co-owner has filed for bankruptcy? Yes, the partition action can generally be filed in the bankruptcy court or the bankruptcy court can apply state partition law to allow offsets when the co-owned property is sold by the bankruptcy trustee.
• How do I file a partition action? Partition actions must be filed in the county where some or all of the co-owned real property is located by way of a partition complaint. While filing the complaint is relatively easy, reaching the end of the partition as quickly and efficiently as possible requires the skill of an experienced partition attorney.
• Can I be forced into selling a jointly owned house? Under California’s Partition of Real Property Act, a co-owner will have a right to buyout the property. However, absent a buy out at the appraised price, a plaintiff will likely be able to force the sale of a jointly owned house.
• What happens to any debts or liens on the property during a partition action? Secured debts are paid from the sale of the property. Secured lenders named in a partition action are generally dismissed with an agreement to pay the mortgage at the time of the sale.