Legal Question in Real Estate Law in Massachusetts
Co Owner Wants Out
My husband and his brother own a two family home, due to recent events my husband and i want to sell the home. His brother is not cooperative he does not want to sellthe home. On a seperate but possibly relative note my ''sister in law'' (not a legal marraige) reports to welfare that she is a rent paying tenant. We have never recieved payment of any form for rent. Is there any thing we could due and is the un payed but reported rent relavent?
3 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Co Owner Wants Out
Your only remedy is to seek have a court order the property partitioned.This can result in the sale of the property or a division of the property depending upon the equities involved. You should contact a real estate attorney for assistance.
Please feel free to contact me if you have more questions.
Re: Co Owner Wants Out
Seek advice of an attorney because in the course of filing a Petition to Partition the property, should it be revealed to the Court that the "Unpaid" rent is for purposes of defrauding welfare, the cotenant, (your husband) may be considered a co-conspiritor, or an accessory before or after the fact.
Re: Co Owner Wants Out
When one co-owner desires to sell real property contrary to the desires of other co-owners, it may well be that his sole remedy is to file a complaint (a civil lawsuit) naming as defendants all other co-owners of the property, and asking the Court to order "Partition." Partition can be a division of the property amongst the owners, or as is more likely when talking about a 2 family home, partition could take the form of a court-ordered sale.
The Court will take into account many factors in partitioning property, including the value of each owner's contributions toward the property.
You would be wise to consult a real estate attorney prior to pursuing this course of action.
Good luck.