Partition Lawyers in Alameda County
Our Alameda County partition litigation attorneys will work diligently to obtain a favorable outcome on your behalf, whether by negotiation or litigation.
Talkov Law’s attorneys serving Alameda County are exceptionally experienced in the area of California partition actions. California partition actions provide a legal mechanism for co-owners of real property to divide the property among themselves. The partition statutes allow a co-owner to file a lawsuit in court to have the property divided, either physically or by awarding each co-owner a certain percentage of the property's value. The court will then order the property to be divided according to the co-owners' wishes. The partition statutes also provide that if the court finds that a physical division of the property is not possible, it may order the property to be sold and the proceeds divided among the co-owners.
- What types of properties can be subject to a partition action in California? All co-owned real or personal property can be partitioned under California law. Cal. Civ. Proc. Code § 872.020.
- Can you lose interest in a jointly owned home by moving out? Generally, co-owners maintain their ownership interests regardless of whether they live at the property. However, in rare cases, leaving the property for many years without paying taxes or other expenses may allow the co-owners in possession to argue that they have adversely possessed the property. Generally, these co-ownership disputes do not get easier with time, so it is important to act promptly.
- How will the property be divided if a partition action is successful? In most partition actions, the property will be sold, rather than being divided. If the property is eligible for partition in-kind, the court can appoint a referee to prepare a report on dividing the property in a manner that does not damage the value of the fractional interests.
- Can a Trust File a Partition? Yes, a trust can file a partition action as the co-owner of real property in California.
- What are the potential outcomes of a partition action? The most likely outcome in a partition action is that the plaintiff receives fair value for their interest in the property either through a sale to a third party or to the defendant. In rare cases, a property can be divided, through this is not applicable to single family residences with no surplus land.
For a free consultation with California’s first and largest team of partition attorneys at Talkov Law at (510) 999-3300 or contact us online today.
Call us at (510) 999-3300 or contact us below to schedule a free, 15-minute consultation.
Akley v. Bassett - Partition Action Case Study
In the legal case of Akley v. Bassett, 189 Cal. 625 (1922), the California Supreme Court was asked to decide whether a partition of real property was proper. The dispute arose when two brothers, William and John Akley, inherited a parcel of land from their father. William wanted to keep the land intact, while John wanted to divide it into two separate parcels. The court held that the partition was proper, as the brothers had equal rights to the land and the partition would not cause any prejudice to either of them. The court also noted that the partition would not interfere with the rights of any third parties, as the land was not subject to any mortgages or other encumbrances. The court also noted that the partition would not cause any damage to the land itself, as it was not necessary to divide the land into two parcels in order to make it more productive.
