Articles Posted in property owner

Does an equitable owner have a right to partition property? (CCP § 872.210)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

When a title owner sues to partition the property, then the matter is relatively straightforward. On the other hand, when a person claims to be an owner of the property but does not appear on the title, can they still sue to partition the property? Who can sue for partition? A legal titleholder—as well as…

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What types of uses are favored for Surplus Land? (Gov. Code § 54220)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Everyone agrees that there is a shortage of affordable housing in California. There are many possible solutions to this problem, one of the solutions was the Legislature’s passage of AB 1486. What is the purpose of the Surplus Land Act? Government Code section 54220 sets the stage for the other provisions of the Surplus Land…

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Can You Contest The Title in a Partition Action? (CCP § 872.210)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

In many ways, partition actions are relatively straightforward. Generally, in a partition action, the two property owners cannot agree on its use, and one of the owners asks the court to sell the property so each can go their separate ways. The question arises of whether one of the two persons actually owns the property…

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The Surplus Land Act’s Pre-Negotiation Notice Requirement (Gov. Code § 65088.4)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

The revised Surplus Land Act contains negotiation requirements to encourage the sale of surplus public land. Also, the law makes it more likely that the land will ultimately be developed for as much housing as possible. Prior to entering negotiations, however, AB 1486 requires that the agency selling the surplus land must first give notice.…

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How Does Accounting Work In A Partition By Division? (CCP § 873.250)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

When two parties jointly own property but cannot agree on its use, then the sale of the property by a “partition” action is frequently a great remedy to solve the dispute. This tool, however, is not available in all circumstances. While a “partition by sale” makes a lot of sense with regard to a single-family…

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What’s the Big Deal with the New Surplus Land Act? (Gov. Code § 54222)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

Everything old is new again. Or so it seems. Sometimes a new thing really is new. In this case, the question is whether the new Surplus Land Act is truly as big of a change as touted. After all, there was a Surplus Land Act before, and there’s a Surplus Land Act now. What’s the…

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Who is a proper party to a partition action? (CCP § 872.540)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

The purpose of this post is to discuss who should be part of a partition action. This post will discuss who is typically joined, note some interesting problems, and address how to properly prosecute such an action. After reviewing this article, the reader will be better able to identify who should be named as a…

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How Does a Partial Taking Affect My Property Taxes? (Treas. Reg 6 1.10233(a)-2(c)(10)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

The purpose of this post is to discuss how a partial taking of your property may affect your property taxes. Often, in an eminent domain action, there are at least two types of damages or payment required. First, the government should pay the property owner for the property actually taken. Second, when the government takes…

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So, You Bought a House with Your Boyfriend
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

As a millennial, we’ve faced financial challenges different from all those before us. We graduated college with more debt into the harsh job market of the Great Recession and then have had to compete during one of the hottest housing markets ever. So, many of us have had to do things differently. We’re having children…

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How Does a Partition Lawsuit Work? (CCP § 874.720)
Underwood Law Firm, P.C.

This article provides insight into how the partition process works so that you can know what to expect and hopefully navigate the process more smoothly. The typical steps for a partition lawsuit are described below. Sometimes, when you inherit real estate together with another family member, or you buy an investment with a partner, the…

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We were in need of an attorney with considerable knowledge of real estate law and the legal issues related to property ownership. Eli Underwood went above and beyond our expectations. In keeping us abreast of our suit, his communication skills were outstanding. This talent was especially...

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In our need for legal services we found Eli to be well informed and on top of our case and our needs. Our's was not an ordinary case as it was a case with many facets. It was a very convoluted case. There were multiple owners involved in a property dispute where one of the owners sued the rest of...

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