Articles Posted in co-owner

Can One Co-Owner Take All of the Rent from the Property?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Often, the question of distributing rent earned on a co-owned property arises in the context of cotenants. Cotenants have equal rights to possess their property with their fellow cotenants. This means that no one cotenant can exclude another from the property. One cotenant can, however, assign their right of possession to a third party. This…

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Can a Co-Owner Take Out a Mortgage Without Your Consent?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Yes. California law allows a co-owner to take out a mortgage without the other co-owners consent or knowledge. Co-owning property with other parties can be quite a responsibility that can be difficult to manage. One particularly stressful aspect of managing property is managing the debt that comes with financing the property. Some parties may even…

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How Does the Process of a Partition Sale Differ From a Divorce Sale?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Partitions sales and divorce sales are two different ways that a property can be sold. One difference between the two is that in a partition sale, the court usually decides the proportion of ownership and how the proceeds are distributed among the owners, while in a divorce sale, the court generally must divide the property…

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What are the tax implications when one co-owner sells to another (Rev. & Tax. Code § 62)? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

There are two common ways an individual can own property: (1) as a tenant in common or (2) as a joint tenant. In California, there is a presumption that the co-owners of a piece of property are tenants in common unless the deed expressly states that the co-owners are joint tenants. In a joint tenancy,…

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What can you do when a co-owner refuses to pay taxes (CCP § 872.140)? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

In every property co-owned by two or more persons, there are common costs. Common costs are those costs for the property that are common to all owners or for the common benefit of all owners. In California, cotenants are required to pay for their portion of the common costs. Therefore, cotenants must pay for their…

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Can One Owner Force a Sale of a House? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Generally, a co-owner of real property may commence an action in a partition. Owners of an estate of inheritance, a life estate, or an estate for years who hold such interest concurrently or in successive estates may seek to partition the property. (CCP § 872.201(a)(2).) Those with concurrent interest in the property may partition the…

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What are the steps to partition trust property?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Partitions are lawsuits that split up the property between multiple co-owners so that each can take their equity out of the home. The prototypical partition is that between unmarried partners or business partners. Both own equal shares, but only one wants to end the relationship and take their money out. Partitions enable this to happen,…

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#SCANDOVAL: Vanderpump Rules’ Star Tom Sandoval Refusing to Leave Home the Couple Shared… What Now? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Following the explosive split between the two stars in the hit reality show, “Vanderpump Rules,” many are left wondering what will become of the couple’s $2.2 million dollar home. Prior to their split, Ariana Madix and Tom Sandoval bought a farmhouse-style home in 2019 and took their time to renovate the Property into their dream…

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How to Acquire a Default Judgement in a Quiet Title Action (CCP § 764.010)?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

An action to quiet title allows a litigant to clear title or have the court establish title to a piece of real property where the title to that property is in the issue. Moreover, a quiet title action is not solely for the purpose of establishing a legal interest in real property but can also…

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Can one owner sign a lease for an entire property? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Yes, although the tenant is not allowed to exclude the non-consenting owners. The reason for this is grounded in ancient legal doctrine regarding the “right to possession” that all co-owners of property share together. Each owner may exercise this right, and each may grant it to a third party, should they so choose, even without…

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