When you and your spouse or partner buy a house together, you’re not just buying a place to live – you’re also creating a financial partnership. Along with that partnership comes the potential for disagreements about how the property should be managed and shared.
Most couples and joint property partners never have to deal with these disputes, but if you find yourself in the middle of one, it’s important to know how to resolve property disputes in family. The best way to handle any type of property dispute is to talk to your partner and try to come up with a solution that works for both of you. If that’s not possible, then it might be time to seek legal help from some reliable legal firms such as LEX Solutions.
Sometimes you’re not sure if what you’re arguing about is actually covered under joint property rights in India, or if it’s something that needs to be resolved in a different way. If you’ve heard that joint property rights can be tricky, and you’re not sure where to start. Don’t worry, we’re here to help.
In this post, we’ll outline some of the most common types of joint property disputes and how best to resolve them.
Introduction
Let’s assume that you and your partner are splitting up and you have to decide what to do with the family home or any joint property. You bought it together, and now you both have a claim to it. It’s a common joint property ownership dispute, and it can be tricky to resolve.
Here are a few things to keep in mind:
1) Make sure you both have a clear understanding of your legal rights.
2) Come to an agreement about what you want to do with the property.
3) Have a third party mediate any disputes that may arise.
4) Seek legal help if you can’t come to an agreement.
Common Joint Property Disputes
When it comes to joint property, there are a few common disputes that can come up. Here are a few of the most common ones:
- Who pays the bills? This is a common question and one that can often lead to arguments.
- Who makes decisions about repairs and renovations? This can be another sticking point, as some people may feel that they have more of a right to make decisions than others.
- One of the owners has exclusive control over the property, but he or she refuses to pay the other owner who is now without ownership of the real estate rent or other compensation.
- One of the property owners will not contribute to the costs associated with maintaining the property, such as upkeep and other maintenance fees.
- On property management-related concerns, the owners are unable to come to an agreement.
- The property’s owners are unable to come to an agreement on how to manage it going forward. For instance, the co-owners can disagree on whether to keep the property as an investment, sell it, or make improvements to it.
- One of the owners is interested in selling the property, while the other is not.
- The connection between the joint owners breaks down, which is especially prevalent for cohabitating couples who are not married or in a civil partnership. They could be disputing their rights to inhabit the land or their respective shares of the property.
- Conflicts between cohabiting parties, such as where the non-owner makes a major contribution to the property and may be entitled to a portion of the equity.
- The owners differ over the magnitude of their ownership stake in the property.
- Investment property—when a piece of property is owned jointly and there is a dispute between the investors.
- One person using the property without the other’s consent.
- One person denies the other access to the property.
- Disputes over who should live in the property and who should rent it out.
- One person trying to exclude the other from owning any part of the property.
Joint Property rules in India
Let’s assume you and your spouse are the proud owners of a property that’s jointly held. You’ve both put equal amounts of money, time, and effort into making it what it is today. But now that you’re getting divorced, things are starting to get a bit complicated.
Who gets to stay on the property? Who will be responsible for the mortgage payments? And what happens if one party decides they want to sell? These are just a few of the questions that need to be answered during joint family property disputes.
Also Read: How to Keep Family Property Conflicts at Bay the Legal Way
The good news is that there are ways to resolve these disputes without having to go to court. In India, the joint property rules are based on the Hindu Succession Act of 1956. This act lays out a set of guidelines that dictate how property is divided among heirs in the event of a death.
But the act doesn’t just apply to Hindus—it applies to all religions in India. If you’re not sure what the act says, or if you need help resolving a joint property dispute, then you should speak to a lawyer who can help you navigate these tricky waters.
One of the recommended law firms in New Delhi and Chandigarh is Lex Solutions.
If you and your partner can’t agree on what to do with the property, you might have to go to court to sort it out.
Here are some things the court might consider when making a decision:
-How long have the two of you been married/in a relationship?
-Who made the biggest financial contribution to buying/building the house?
-Who has been living in the house and paying the bills?
-The wishes of any children who live in the house.
Joint property ownership on death
Imagine this: you and your spouse own a house together, and you die suddenly. Now, what happens to the house?
Generally, when one spouse dies, the other spouse becomes the sole owner of the property. But there are some states that have community property laws, which means that the property is owned jointly by both spouses even after one of them dies.
So what can you do if you’re faced with a joint property dispute like this? The best thing to do is to speak with an attorney who specializes in this area of law. They’ll be able to guide you through your state’s laws and help you resolve the dispute as quickly and painlessly as possible.
Resolving Joint Property Disputes
Resolving property disputes as soon as possible is very important to keep yourself stress-free. A good way to resolve any kind of joint property dispute is to go to court and get a proper judgement. If you cannot come to an agreement outside of the court, the court will order the division of the property in a fair and equitable manner.
If, on the other hand, both parties are willing to negotiate and come to an agreement outside of court, there are a few different ways this can be done. One way is for each person to get a lawyer who will help them draft a settlement agreement. This agreement will outline how the property will be shared and what will happen if one party breaches the agreement.
Also Read: Facing a Property Related Dispute? How to Solve it!
HERE ARE SOME WAYS YOU CAN RESOLVE A JOINT PROPERTY DISPUTE:
- Settlement: If family members are involved in the property issue, you might opt to settle it through settlement. In the settlement, both parties must sit across from one another and agree on how to split the assets and real estate. This entails the split of both transportable items like jewellery and immovable items like real estate.
Families occasionally hire an impartial third party to uphold discipline during the procedure. Such an impartial third party can assist the parties in reaching a win-win conclusion. You should draft a settlement agreement once the family members have mutually agreed upon a distribution. This settlement agreement should be signed by all family members.
The settlement eliminates the need for legal representation and court fees. It is usually preferable to settle if at all feasible and in the first instance. You can go to court if a settlement cannot be reached or if it is unsuccessful.
- Litigation: Litigation is nothing more than going before the courts to settle property conflicts. This entails attorneys, court fees, and sometimes a sizable length of delay. In the first case, unconnected parties will often turn to lawsuits. Litigation is a long-term conflict resolution method that incorporates judicial procedures and processes. Only pursue litigation if you have all the necessary papers, including the title deed, and your attorney believes you have a good chance of succeeding. Courts have been known to order parties to settle out of court. This settlement is under court supervision.
- Mediation: Another way to resolve a joint property dispute is through mediation. This is where both parties meet with a mediator who will help them come to an agreement. The mediator will not force either party to agree to anything but will help them talk through their issues and come up with a solution that works for both of them.
- Liquidation: It is possible to sell the property and receive a portion of the proceeds. A court will frequently order the sale of an unoccupied property.
- Buy Out: One might purchase the other. As a consequence, one is given the property and everyone gets their fair portion of the value.
Joint ownership of property disputes can be resolved easily if you hire LEX Solutions for such matters. If you’re in the middle of a joint property dispute, it’s important to know your options and what each option entails. Talk to a lawyer about your situation and find out what the best course of action is for you.
Additional Tips:-
If you are in the unfortunate situation of being in a dispute with your spouse or partner over joint property, it is important to take action and resolve the dispute as soon as possible. Here are a few tips on how to do that:
- Talk to your spouse or partner about the issue and try to come to a resolution.
- Seek legal help if you are unable to come to a resolution on your own.
- Try to stay calm and rational during the dispute.
- Keep track of all financial transactions related to the joint property.
- Make sure you have a written agreement outlining the rules and regulations related to joint property.