Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Indiana

I am part-owner of a home that was willed to me and my brother. I live in the home. My brother lives elsewhere but keeps some personal possessions in the home (and as part-owner, he also co-owns furniture and other possessions we inherited).
For some time he has helped himself to things he wants, mostly possession we co-own through inheritance but also has stolen items (relatively inexpensive) he knew were exclusively mine. I have not filed police reports.
We are in dispute on what to do with the property and the situation is becoming nasty. He recently filed a lawsuit to try to force me to sell to a friend of his.
Of late, he has begun taking items of more significance. I put a deadbolt on my bedroom door for that reason.
Can I put a new deadbolt on the exterior residence door?
(I am fully willing to allow him access but he only enters when I am not there and, as tensions escalate, I worry he'll steal more personal items of mine (such as my stereo, which is outside my bedroom).
Thank you.

Asked on 2/19/11, 12:32 pm

Jay Rigdon Rockhill Pinnick LLP

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You need to hire an attorney to file a partition action to sell the home, and possibly any co-owned personal property.

Answered on 2/20/11, 3:10 pm

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