Partition Attorneys in Napa
When co-owners of a Napa home, rental, or wine-country property can’t agree on what happens to it, a partition action lets the court order it sold and divide the proceeds. From Old Town Napa to Browns Valley to Alta Heights, we handle these cases every day — and only these cases.
The co-ownership disputes we see most in Napa
Inherited family homes, rentals, and second homes owned by relatives make up most of the co-ownership disputes we see in the city of Napa.
Siblings inherited the house and one won’t sell
A parent’s home in Old Town or Browns Valley passes to several children who can’t agree on keeping it or selling it. Since 2023, California’s Partition of Real Property Act adds extra steps for many family-owned properties, so it pays to work with attorneys who handle these cases every day.
Relatives bought a home together and now disagree
Parents, adult children, or siblings who pooled money to buy a home in Napa no longer agree on what to do with it. If one owner won’t sell or refinance, partition is how the property gets sold.
Co-owners of a condo want different things
Friends, relatives, or former partners who own a Napa condo together can’t agree on keeping it or selling. Partition is how the unit gets sold, with credits for HOA dues and mortgage payments each owner made.
Partners in a rental stopped agreeing
Co-investors in a Napa rental disagree on tenants, repairs, or when to sell. A partition action ends the deadlock and includes an accounting of the rent and expenses.
Napa co-owners: the longer you wait, the more it costs
You can’t make a co-owner cooperate, but you don’t need them to. In California, a co-owner generally has the right to file a partition action without the other owners’ permission.
The bills keep coming
- If you wait
- Your share of the mortgage, property tax, and insurance keeps coming due whether or not you can use the property.
- Once you file
- Payments you made can be credited back to you from the sale proceeds, and a co-owner in sole possession may owe you for its use.
Nothing happens on its own
- If you wait
- Your co-owner can ignore calls and letters for as long as they like.
- Once you file
- Napa County Superior Court sets the schedule. Your co-owner must respond to the lawsuit or risk a default.
The property can slip in value
- If you wait
- Neglect, liens, or a co-owner’s creditors can cut into what your share is worth.
- Once you file
- A recorded lis pendens puts buyers and lenders on notice of your claim, and the sale happens under court supervision.
How much of your money is locked in this property?
Your share of the equity
Money you own but can’t touch until the property is sold.
What another year of waiting costs
Paid out of your pocket on a property you can’t use or sell.
Start Your PartitionEstimate for illustration only, before sale costs and court-ordered credits. A partition attorney can tell you what applies to your property.
Ready to get your share out of your Napa property? Let’s start your partition.
Start Your PartitionWhat makes a Napa partition different
Every partition follows California law, but Napa properties raise issues we plan for from the first call.
- Proposition 19 reassessment. Heirs who don’t live in an inherited home generally lose the parent’s lower tax assessment, which can make holding the property expensive. We factor that into the timing of your case.
- Flood zones. Parts of parts of Napa near the river sit in mapped flood zones, which can affect insurance and buyer demand. We factor that into how the property is marketed and sold.
- Wildfire risk and insurance. Properties in the hills above Napa can face higher fire insurance costs or limited coverage, which affects what buyers will pay. We plan for that when the property goes to market.
Someone living there?
Whether it’s a tenant, a relative, or a co-owner who won’t leave, who is living in the property shapes how and when it can be sold.
Our approach: we deal with occupancy at the start of the case, so it doesn’t hold up the sale or reduce your share.
Who pays the attorney’s fees? In a California partition, the court can divide the fees and costs incurred for everyone’s benefit among all co-owners in proportion to their interests, under Code of Civil Procedure 874.010 and 874.040.
Tell us about your Napa property
A partition attorney will review your situation and explain your options — usually in a 15-minute call.
- Who’s on title and how title is held
- How an inherited home is sold
- Credits you may be owed for payments you made
- Whether fees can be shared with the other co-owners
Prefer to talk now?
(707) 777-6600Questions Napa co-owners ask us
Can a co-owner force the sale of a Napa property?
Yes. California law generally gives every co-owner the right to ask the court to divide or sell the property, unless that right was given up in a written agreement. See the full California partition statutes.
Where is a Napa partition case filed?
In the Superior Court of California, County of Napa, because that is where the property is located.
What if one of the co-owners has died?
Their share passes to their heirs or estate, and those people become co-owners. We identify who holds each share before filing so the case isn’t delayed later.
Do I need my co-owner’s permission to file?
No. A California co-owner generally has the right to file a partition action without the other owners’ consent. Your co-owner is served with the lawsuit and must respond to it.
Will the property be auctioned at the courthouse?
Rarely. In most cases a court-appointed referee lists the property on the open market with a real estate broker, which typically brings a better price than an auction.
