Milian v. De Leon

Partition Offsets: Two Ways to Recover Taxes and Improvements

Partition actions aren’t just about forcing a sale—they’re your chance to get reimbursed for every dollar you put into the property. When a partition action is filed to sell co-owned property, co-owners are entitled to reimbursement for any amounts they overpaid for the property’s expenses or improvements during their co-ownership period. However, determining which reimbursement … Read More

My Co-owner is Not Paying the Property Taxes

It’s not uncommon for one co-owner to bear the brunt of property taxes, especially in scenarios where one co-owner resides on the property while others do not. An issue arises when this arrangement leads to a disparity in financial contributions for maintenance and obligations tied to the property. Implications of Financial Distress The failure of … Read More

Unclear Ownership Interests on Deeds with Multiple Co-Owners

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

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

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

Reimbursement for Improvements in Partition Actions Talkov Law

Reimbursement for Improvements in Partition Actions

Compensation for Improvements When Ending Co-Ownership of Real Property California law allows for compensation for improvements made by one co-owner in partition actions. However, the circumstances in which an offset will be awarded vary with courts also creating varying rulings as to the measure of damages in such an offset between the out-of-pocket cost, the … Read More

CCP 872.610 Plaintiff and defendant Talkov Law

Code of Civil Procedure 872.610 CCP – Plaintiff and defendant (Partition Actions)

California Code of Civil Procedure 872.610 is the California partition statute that specifies that the interests of all parties may be tried in the partition action. The statute provides that: The interests of the parties, plaintiff as well as defendant, may be put in issue, tried, and determined in the action. California Code of Civil … Read More

Recovery of Offsets for Attorney's Fees Talkov Law

Partition Offsets and Accounting in California

Receiving Your Equity When Forcing the Sale of a Home in California When co-owners of shared property in California cannot agree on what to do with a property, they may petition the court to force the sale of the property through a partition action. Very often, co-ownership issues go hand-in-hand with financial issues related to … Read More

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