Articles Posted in co-owner

Can you partition a Bank Account (CCP § 872.210)?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

A partition action occurs when there are two or more title holders to a piece of property, and these title holders are unable to reach an agreement on splitting the subject property. Typically, a litigant brings a partition action to have the court force the sale of or split the subject property. Generally, an action…

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How do you enforce real estate contracts in Probate Court (Probate Code section 850)? 
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Real estate contracts are an expansive field of both law and life. Sales, leases, options, and certainly wills can all fall under this broad category. Normally, once a contract is signed, parties can go to court to enforce them by filing a lawsuit. But if one of the parties has passed away, the transaction becomes…

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What Is a Real Estate Investment Trust (Corp. Code section 23000)?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

In California, a real estate investment trust is “any unincorporated association or trust formed to engage in business and managed by, or under the direction of, one or more trustees for the benefit of the holders or owners of transferable shares of beneficial interest in the trust estate and (1) that formed for the purpose…

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What is an Accounting Action (CCP § 872.140)?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

An action for accounting is an equitable action seeking to determine the amount owed to the parties of an action when damages are uncertain. “An accounting is an equitable proceeding which is proper where there is an unliquidated and unascertained amount owing that cannot be determined without an examination of the debits and credits on…

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What is a Marvin Agreement (Marvin v. Marvin (1976) 18 Cal.3d 660)?
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

A Marvin agreement is an implied or express contract made between two nonmarried cohabitants/partners regarding property rights during a romantic relationship. Generally, unmarried partners living together can enter a variety of contracts, including but not limited to pooling their earnings to share property equally, holding property as joint tenants or tenants in common, or keeping…

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What is a TIC Agreement (Kapner v. Meadowland Ranch Assn. (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 1182)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

A “TIC” Agreement is a contractual agreement between tenants in common to real property. Because each tenant in common is a co-owner of the property, these agreements can help spell out the rights of each, preventing future disputes over payment or occupation. And, if the dispute cannot be prevented, the agreement, acting as a binding…

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What happens when a co-owner refuses to pay their share of the mortgage? ((Wallace v. Daley (1990) 220 Cal.App.3d 1028.)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

In California, cotenants are obligated to pay for their portion of common costs. A huge part of owning property jointly is “splitting the bill,” so to speak. From Property taxes to mortgage payments to utilities, the list goes on and on in terms of what all cotenants are responsible for. But that does not mean…

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Can Guardians or Conservators file partition claims? (CCP § 872.710(c))
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Yes, but only in specific circumstances. When thinking of lawsuits, most people associate them with individuals. John may sue Mary for battery, for example. But this isn’t always the case. A large part of the law is devoted to virtual representation because some people, like minors, simply cannot file suit. This is where guardians and…

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Is there a Statute of Limitations on Partition Actions? (CCP § 318)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

In most cases, no. Instead, the statute of limitations most frequently bars a partition action when a party’s rights to the property have lapsed due to an ouster. What is a Partition Action? A partition action is an action brought by a co-owner of a piece of real property against another co-owner, seeking to divide…

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What is an Ejectment Action? (CCP § 3375)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Ejectment is an action brought by a party seeking to recover a possessory interest or claim of title in a piece of real property. Typically, an ejectment action arises when a titleholder to a piece of property has been wrongfully excluded or withheld from the property. Therefore, ejectment applies only to those cases where an…

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