Articles Tagged with partition

underwood-responsible-bidder-partition-300x300Under the Partition Law, “[a] bidder is responsible if it can perform the contract as promised.” (PCC § 20162; Valley Crest Landscape, Inc. v. City Council (1996) 41 Cal.App.4th 1432, 1438.) That means, in essence, that it can be determined from the face of the bid itself that it will be viable, without outside investigation or information. (Taylor Bus Service, Inc. v. San Diego Bd. Of Education (1987) 195 Cal.App.3d 1331, 1342.) 

The concept of the “responsible bidder” comes up at the end of partition cases when the court is deciding whether the confirm or vacate the partition sale. Essentially, the law provides that if a “responsible bidder” makes a viable bid above the sales price, then the court may vacate the sale and either sell the property to the bidder, or start a new round of marketing the property. 

For parties who were looking forward to a sale, this can be devastating news if the court chooses to send the house back to the market. As such, having the right attorney by your side can make all the difference. At Underwood Law Firm, our attorneys are well versed enough in the practice and procedure of partition actions to help you get the answers and relief you need

underwood-guide-to-appeal-interlocutory-judgement-300x300Does the appeal of an interlocutory judgment automatically stay the partition case?

No. An appeal of an interlocutory judgment in a partition case is not stayed unless the appellant files an undertaking. (CCP §§ 917.4, 917.5.) Normally, appeals of court judgments result in an “automatic” stay that restrains the lower trial court from issuing any more orders until the appeal process is completed. 

There, are however, certain types of orders where this rule is inapplicable. Instead, if the appealing party wants to stay lower court proceedings, they must post a bond to the court called an “undertaking.” Interlocutory judgments of partition fall into this category because they are orders that dispose of real property.

underwood-liability-of-partition-referee-300x300Generally, when a trial court orders an interlocutory judgment directing a partition by sale, it can appoint a referee to conduct the sale (CCP § 873.010). However, when a party to the partition feels that they have been aggrieved by the actions of this court-appointed referee, they may bring an action against them.

When this occurs, the party may contend that the referee violated some fiduciary duties or committed some torts while performing the role appointed to them by the court. However, when a role is appointed by a court, the person holding that role may be entitled to what is known as quasi-judicial immunity. 

What is Quasi-Judicial Immunity?

underwood-ccp-joinder-property-300x300The California Partition Law begins at Code of Civil Procedure section 872.010 and ends at Code of Civil Procedure section 874.323. Section 872.240 allows for personal property to be partitioned with real property. The purpose of Section 872.240 is to give parties an avenue to partition their personal property alongside their real property if they want to. 

Code of Civil Procedure section 872.240 states

Real and personal property may be partitioned in one action.

underwood-ccp-partition-complaint-300x300The California Partition Law begins at Code of Civil Procedure section 872.010 and ends at Code of Civil Procedure section 874.323. Section 872.230 outlines the necessary information a plaintiff must have in their complaint. The point of the statute is for plaintiffs to file a proper complaint with all of the content required to initiate a partition lawsuit. If the party files an improper complaint, the court could dismiss the case at the outset. 

Code of Civil Procedure section 872.230 states

The complaint shall set forth:

underwood-blog-compensatory-adjustment-300x300The California Partition Law begins at Code of Civil Procedure section 872.010 and ends at Code of Civil Procedure section 874.323. Within the Partition Statute, section 872.140 clarifies the court’s power to make equitable compensatory adjustments.

Code of Civil Procedure section 872.140 states

The court may, in all cases, order allowance, accounting, contribution, or other compensatory adjustment among the parties according to the principles of equity. 

underwoodblogtenancy-300x300Generally, married couples who buy homes in California are afforded certain rights and protections under California law. These rights and protections do not necessarily apply to unmarried couples who own property as tenants-in-common. Unmarried couples can still take further steps to protect their property rights.

Differences Between Married Couples and Tenants-In-Common

Married couples in California who own property together have some ownership differences from normal tenants-in-common. The main benefit that married couples have over tenants-in-common is the right of survivorship. 

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