Ex-girlfriend Won't Sell

Expert, localized Los Angeles answers provided by Heather Roy

Ex-girlfriend Won't Sell
	I own a house with an ex-girlfriend. We split up several years ago after she asked me to move out. I only wanted 15K after the splitup to buy out my share. She refused and said she wanted 2 years to get her affairs in order before selling the house. It has now been 6 years and the house has appreciated considerably. I have made several offers over the years to try and come to some deal. My latest offer was, (I give you 55,000, or your give me 50,000, or sell and we split 60-40 in your favor.) She does no respond to any of my correspondence. What is my recourse?

	As a co-owner, you have the right known as "partition." You can go to court and ask for a public auction sale of the property and division of the proceeds. A forced sale like that seldom yields true market value. One lawyer I know says it's "a little like foreclosing on yourself." But perhaps if your ex receives a letter from your lawyer pointing all that out she'll be more amenable to some solution to the situation.
	Edith Originally published on September 25, 2007

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