Articles Posted in Partition Action

Lawsuits that affect interests in real property, such as partition actions, often require courts to adjudicate competing claims regarding who should have title to or possession of real property. In general, courts adjudicating such disputes follow the principle of “first in time, first in right.” Under this principle, “a conveyance recorded first generally has priority over any later-recorded conveyance.” (First Bank v. East West Bank (2011) 199 Cal.App.4th 1309, 1313.) 

An important factor that courts consider when adjudicating cases affecting interests in property is whether each party affected by the court’s judgment had notice of the litigation or judgment. A judgment affecting title to or possession of real property that is recorded imparts “constructive” notice to a subsequent transferee or encumbrancer. When recorded, such judgment is effective against any subsequent conveyance or encumbrance, regardless of whether the parties to that judgment receive notice about the subsequent conveyance or encumbrance. (Civ. Code, § 1214.) 

In contrast, a judgment that is not recorded with the recorder’s office of the county in which a property is located does not impart constructive notice to subsequent transferees or encumbrancers of the property. Any such judgment generally is not binding on a subsequent transferee or encumbrancer who acquires and records an interest in the property without notice of the prior litigation or judgment. (Civ. Code, § 1214.)