Joint Tenancy Archives

Tenancy in Common California Lawyer Attorney Partition Co-Ownership Law Firm

What is Tenancy in Common?

California recognizes different forms of property co-ownership, the most common and default of which is tenants in common. California Civil Code 682 recognizes “ownership of property by several persons” in these forms: (a) Of joint interest. (b) Of partnership interests. (c) Of interests in common. (d) Of community interest of spouses. This article specifically focuses on tenants in common as the … Read More

Affidavit of Death of a Joint Tenant (Probate Code § 210)

The fundamental rule of joint tenancy is the right of survivorship, by which the public learns about the current ownership through a recorded affidavit of death of joint tenant. This article explains joint tenancy and what to do when a joint tenant dies. What is Joint Tenancy? Joint tenancy, also known as joint tenancy with … Read More

Do a Majority of the Co-Owners Need to Support a Partition Action

Is a Majority Vote Needed to File a Partition Action?

No. A common misconception is that a majority of the ownership interests are needed for a court to compel the sale of a jointly-owned property in a partition. This belief is entirely incorrect. Any owner, regardless of their ownership percentage, can initiate the sale of the property, whether they hold 99% or merely 1% of … Read More

Unclear Ownership Interests on Deeds with Multiple Co-Owners

Many deeds convey an interest to three or more co-owners with no indication of the fractional ownership interest of each co-owner. These deeds raise the question of the relative co-ownership, creating complications when legal issues such as partition actions arise. There are several key factors to look at when a deed is unclear that help … Read More

Tenancy in Common vs. Joint Tenancy – What is the Difference?

Knowing the different types of co-ownership is key to understanding property co-ownership. In California, unmarried co-owners frequently hold title in one of two main forms: tenancy in common or joint tenancy. The difference between these two can greatly affect how property is inherited, managed, and divided in the case of a partition action. Tenancy in … Read More

Joint Tenancy in California

Joint Tenancy with Right of Survivorship A joint tenancy is a type of co-ownership in California wherein all parties own equal shares of a property. A property owned by joint tenants is “owned by two or more persons in equal shares, by a title created by a single will or transfer, when expressly declared in … Read More

Deed to Sever Joint Tenancy California Partition Attorney

How to Sever Joint Tenancy in California [Form Template Sample Example]

California law allows joint tenants to sever the joint tenancy so their interest will pass under the laws of probate, meaning their partial interest in real estate will go to their heirs, e.g., their spouse or children. In fact, when a joint tenant in California dies, their interest in California real estate becomes owned by … Read More

Milian v. De Leon true joint tenancy in partition actions

True Joint Tenancy in California Partition Actions – Milian v. De Leon

True Joint Tenancy under Milian v. De Leon (1986) 181 Cal.App. 3d 1185, 1195 Milian v. De Leon is one of the most fascinating cases in California partition actions in that it found that, “once the court in a partition action has determined that a true joint tenancy exists, it may not order reimbursement or contribution … Read More

Unequal Down Payments in Property Co-Ownership Disputes & Partition Actions

Unequal Down Payments and Ownership Interests in Property Co-Ownership Disputes (Partition Actions)

One of the most common issues that arises in California real estate co-ownership disputes and related partition actions is the remedy for a party who pays more than their fractional share of the down payment. For example, perhaps Sally and Joe purchase a home together, with Sally paying $100,000 of the down payment, while Joe … Read More

Civil Code § 683.2(c) – Joint Tenancy Severance After Death is Limited by California Law

By definition, a joint tenancy is an interest in property in which each party has an equal share in the property. Joint tenants also enjoy the privilege of the right of survivorship, which allows a deceased joint tenant’s interest in a property to automatically pass to the surviving joint tenant(s). If the interest is transferred … Read More