Partition Archives

Why Past Consideration Cannot Support a Contract in California

In California contract law, past consideration cannot form the basis of an enforceable contract. This principle plays a crucial role in real estate and partition disputes, where parties may attempt to retroactively classify a past financial transaction—such as a gift—as a secured loan. This is common in intra-family partitions and ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend partitions. Courts have repeatedly … Read More

Buying and Selling Fractional Interests in Real Estate: Immediate Cash or Full Value?

Fractional ownership in real estate can be both an opportunity and a challenge. Whether you inherited a 50% interest in a property or co-own it with a former romantic partner, disputes or differing goals among co-owners often make it difficult to decide the best path forward. While the ideal solution to unlock the full value … 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

Partiton Referee Receiver California Law Real Estate Lawyer Attorney

Partition Referees in California

Partition referees in California effectuate the court’s judgment that the property should be partitioned, which usually involves a sale of the property. Sometimes, partition referees are referees to as partition receivers, partition special masters, partition commissioners, partition administrators, or real estate referees. List of Partition Referees in California As the largest partition-only law firm in … Read More

Title Insurance in a Partition Action

Whether your property is subject to a partition action or you are transferring ownership through a public sale, a clear and marketable title is essential for a smooth transfer of ownership. Real estate litigation often arises from disputes over property titles, highlighting the importance of a comprehensive title insurance policy. Property buyers and lenders alike … 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

Why Do Courts Allow Partition Actions?

Courts allow partition actions in California as a legal remedy to resolve co-ownership disputes. In a partition action, the co-owned property is either divided or sold with each co-owner receiving their equitable interest. Some co-owners wonder if a judge can really force the sale of a property they have lived in for years. Further, some … Read More

Damages for Ouster California Partition Action Law Attorney

Damages for Ouster in California Partition Actions

Co-ownership of property often involves a delicate balance of rights and responsibilities among the owners. However, this equilibrium can be disrupted when one co-owner oversteps their bounds, leading to a situation termed “ouster.” An ouster occurs when one co-owner unlawfully excludes another from the property, effectively seizing sole benefits of ownership while circumventing its associated … Read More

Can a Co-Owner Trespass on Jointly Owned Property?

Co-owners who disagree about how to use co-owned property often find themselves in toxic co-ownership relationships. Ending the co-ownership relationship via a partition action, or the forced sale of jointly owned property, can benefit all co-owners in the long run. However, while the property remains co-owned, it’s not uncommon for issues to arise regarding who … Read More

Ariana Madix vs. Tom Sandoval – Partition Lawyer Analysis

On Janaury 5, 2024, news broke that reality star Ariana Madix had filed a complaint for partition by sale against long-term (ex) boyfriend Tom Sandoval. The Vanderpump Rules couple owns a Los Angeles house together, but split in 2023 when it was revealed that Tom had been having an affair with their castmate Raquel Leviss. … Read More