Can a co-owner force the sale of a jointly owned property?
Usually, co-owners in a piece of real property will net more from a voluntary sale of that property than they would from a legal battle and court-ordered sale. Partition lawsuits to force the sale of a jointly owned property can be costly. They may also take some time.
What is the process for selling a jointly owned property?
The process is relatively straightforward: If the property is genuinely jointly owned (because in some cases it might not be); and The only dispute is whether the property should be sold or not; then
Can a court force a sale of a property?
In a partition lawsuit, the court can order the sale of the entire property and divide proceeds among its owners. A If you and your co-owners are tenants in common – and so each own a distinct share of the property – then yes you can force a sale.
How to sell a house if the other joint owner refuses?
In those circumstances you can ask the court to give you control of the sale of the property. You can also ask the court to sign any documents necessary to sell the house if the other joint owner refuses. In a straightforward case like this you could have an order for sale within a few months. You Might Not Need To Do That!

What happens if one person wants to sell a house and the other doesn t?
You may have no other choice but to go to court to force a sale. The proceeds of the house sale may go toward paying your mortgage off and you can walk away. However, if you transfer ownership in another way, you'll need to ensure that the remaining co-owners are willing and are able to refinance the loan without you.
Can a co owner force a buyout?
A homeowner can force a sale that is co-owned, either by negotiating a buyout, selling your share to a new owner, or getting a court-forced to sale.
Can I force the sale of a jointly owned property UK?
If you are living in the jointly owned family home, unless you agree to voluntarily sell the home your spouse or partner can apply to the Court for an order for sale of the property. The Court will normally only make an Order for sale at a final hearing.
What is a forced sale of a house?
A forced sale is an involuntary transaction in which the sale is based upon legal and not economic factors, such as a decree, execution, or something different than mere inability to maintain the property.
Can a joint property be sold by one owner?
1. A co-owner of a property is capable of selling his/her undivided share in the property provided the purchaser is willing to make a purchase in the said manner. the only other way is to partition a property, either through court or through a partition deed and then affect sale of divided property. 2.
Can I sell my house if my partner doesn't want to?
If one person wishes to sell the house and the other does not, an action of division and sale needs to be raised to ask the court to order a sale. The other person can ask the court to postpone or refuse the sale.
How do I sell my house if one partner refuses UK?
There are two methods which are best when it comes to answering how to sell a house when one partner refuses; either buy your partner out and sell the property when you own it outright or come to an agreement to sell the property together and split the money made from the sale.
What circumstances can you force a house sale UK?
What circumstances can you force a house sale UK?Refusal of sale.Refusal of sale but an order is placed regulating the right to occupancy.Sale is granted.Sale is granted but suspended for a short period.Partition the co-owned property (in exceptional circumstances)
Can my husband force me to sell the house?
And the short answer is, “Yes.” The court can force you to sell your home because they have the authority to transfer property from one spouse to another or to order property sold pursuant to a dissolution of marriage.
Can I get a court order to sell my house?
A court order is usually required if you and your partner have split up and can't agree to sell the property, or you cannot afford to repay the mortgage. In some extreme circumstances, homes may be sold for the benefit of the local community, but this is rare.
Can I sell my share of undivided property?
The undivided share of land can be sold through a registered sale deed. The consent of the other co-owners is not required for selling the undivided share of land. However, the seller will have to file a request for the proper demarcation of the property.
Can a co-owner make a transfer without the consent of other co-owners?
When can a share be transferred? The co-owner can sell or transfer his portion only when he has exclusive rights to that portion of the property. If the exclusive rights are not entitled to each co-owner, such transfer of rights cannot take place without the consent of other joint co-owners.
Protective Steps
Unfortunately, some people’s response will be to bury their head in the sand.
Forcing The Sale – Next Steps
I hope that this article has given you an idea of how you can force the sale of a jointly owned property, whether that’s by simply threatening to take the matter to court, or actually doing that if you don’t get a positive response.
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I’ll then get in touch as soon as I can for a chat about your legal rights and options.
How to prevent disputes when buying a house?
One way to prevent disputes down the line, is to get a deed of trust drawn up when you buy a home. This will set out your agreed intentions when buying the property and clarify when it can be sold and what each person’s share will be. This can also be used to protect someone’s money if they have lent you funds to buy a home but want it back when it is sold.
Can a joint owner sell a property?
In most cases a property that is jointly owned will be sold with the approval of all those who own it. However, occasionally, joint owners will not be able to agree on the best way forward, which could lead to one or more of them attempting to force a sale. Here we look at what this means and how the process may unfold.
Can a judge grant an order for sale?
If you apply for an order for sale, there is no guarantee a judge will grant one. They will consider several factors including the purpose of the property when the joint owners bought it, for example:
How Do You Own the Property?
It is easy to own property jointly. You and your chosen co-owner simply sign papers at the title company when you buy together. There are three ways to own property communally in Texas:
Reasons for Forcing a Sale
Joint ownership can cause unintended consequences and complications. When owners of jointly owned property can’t agree about selling or refinancing a property or there are other problems, you can force a sale. In a partition lawsuit, the judge can order the property sold and proceeds divided among the owners.
Tax Disagreements
When you sell a home for more than you paid for it, you usually pay capital gains taxes–based on the increase in value. There could be disagreements about whether selling a house could cause additional tax payments for one or more of the other owners.
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Consult an experienced attorney who specializes in estate planning to help you decide the best way to manage your property issues and meet your financial goals.
What happens in a partition lawsuit?
In a partition lawsuit, the court can order the sale of the entire property and divide proceeds among its owners. Partition lawsuits forcing all owners in a property to sell that property are usually a last resort. Courts always prefer squabbling co-owners to cooperate in selling the property before considering forced partition.
Can you sell a property without a partition lawsuit?
However, an owner in a tenancy in common or a joint tenancy can't sell the ownership interests of the other owners holding title in the property. Also, you can't simply force the other owners in your property to sell it entirely without first filing a partition lawsuit.
Can a joint tenancy sell the property they own?
However, an owner in a tenancy in common or a joint tenancy can't sell the ownership interests of the other owners holding title in ...
